Today, as it's half-way through half-term now, I gave myself a day off. I went over to a friends house where a few of us shared a delicious lunch:
Home made organic carrot soup, organic bread and cheese, organic apple juice, followed by Pukka Organic tea called "Love," an infusion of rose, lavender and camomile, with a home-made strawberry cream sponge.
The idea of drinking in love, as a symbol, seemed powerful. Many of us are brilliant at showing, and giving love, but find it harder to receive. Those around us can be good at taking, but less dynamic when giving back. To sit with good friends and share the ritual of tea called "Love," shows that we are allowing it to come in.
Within half an hour of arriving at my friend's home, the text messages started to come in.
"Wen wil u b bak?"
"I ned £10 2 get 2 gig in Brighton."
I decided to turn my phone off. They managed without me. I reached 35 without having a mobile phone, and only resorted to one when I was driving myself from Hastings to Maidstone on a regular basis. Now, it is widely expected that we should all have one, but there are times when you want to be unavailable.
Conversation turned, during the afternoon, to being "available." As some of my friendship circle, myself included, find ourselves "available," how do we feel about it and , if we don't like it, how to change it?
Men seem to start relationships quickly, according to statistics. They don't seem to attach the same sort of stigma to being single as women do. I wouldn't have the first idea about "dating," for example.
"How do the youngsters manage?" someone asked.
I think they attract relationships because they expect to, and believe that they will. The older singles have "BAGGAGE" that makes it more difficult.
We concluded that to attract love, one has to show love and love oneself. It sounds trite, but one is never totally fulfilled by external gratification. Having someone love you, and being seen to be loved, puffs up the ego but does not nurture the soul. Only loving yourself can do that: being the person you truly are, and loving yourself for it. When you can do that, you are more likely to attract a truly loving relationship into your life.
