Relationships

Johnny Cash would have you believe that love is a burning thing, and it makes a fiery ring. I’d be inclined to agree with him. He ended up falling into his though as the flames grew higher, I however might just recommend stoking it together with the help of your partner. 

For some time now I have viewed being in love as like tending to a fire. We enter into camp with our significant others and spark the flames which burn effortlessly and brightly at the beginning without much effort needed from either party to keep it roaring. 

As time goes on however the fuel to the fire gets eaten up and it needs replacing, rain clouds gather and threaten to put it out and tiredness can grip and threaten to send us both to sleep as the embers die down. 

In relationships we both therefore have a duty and a responsibility to keep the warmth and safety going that this campfire provides us with. It benefits us both and is worth the effort. Love burns brightest when it feels understood, listened to, accepted, appreciated, respected and acknowledged. 

Setting ourselves aside to make space for the person we love to be vulnerable, sad, upset, raw with their feelings when needed is one of the greatest things we can do for them. Little behaviours that every now and then tell them, ‘what you’re feeling right now and what you have to say is more important to me than myself in this moment’. That doesn’t go unnoticed and it breeds reciprocal behaviours. The more you put into the fire, the better it will keep you warm.