Someone dear to me is having a relationship problem and is standing at a crossroads in life.  Since I am not Dear Abby, I won’t share the salacious details here, my purpose is to point to a general observation about all relationships.

There is one overarching truth about each of us as human beings:  As we go through life we either grow, regress or remain static.  This is true for all of us no matter what the circumstance, it is a fact of living on this big blue marble.

When this truth is applied to relationships the corollary is that for a union to persist each partner must grow, regress or remain static at or near the same rate as the other or common ground is lost.  Once there is no common ground there is very little basis for continuing the relationship and any attempt to do so comes at a cost.   That cost usually involves the loss of peace of mind and comes with some degree of mental or physical anguish.

Relationships with deep seated feelings or of long standing should be salvaged if possible but it is important to recognize that there is a point of diminishing returns, emotional suicide serves no one.

In most religions or philosophies we can find support when faced with major decisions in seemingly failed relationships.  I will reference only one, The Bible, 2 Corinthians, 6:14, “Be not unequally yoked.”

Life is a series of choices and whether we grow, regress or become stagnant depends on how well we address those choices.

God bless.