(Failed) Relationships (or That Jerk!)

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week and we are days away to sweldo time. First things first, my apologies for not writing the past - I counted the days – month. Blame it on my day job (Smile!). And after that “long” break, I have decided to do away (for the nth time) with my acerbic comments about the world around me. I have copied some articles I got from some fellow bloggers, which explains today’s title. And yes, my column should read: The Crazy Me as there is nothing about Calbayog, at least for today. (Smile, it’s a new week)

Bitter? Hmmm. Don’t ask why such a title. It’s for the purpose of being able to do away (like closure? :-) ) with bad endings that came after happy beginnings that some people (of not-so-happy memory) have brought upon – hmmm (you don’t have to guess); and in a way explains why this column took some hibernation. (Smile! It adds to your face value!)

Let me give you something which I got from www. heavenpurgatoryandhell.blogspot.com:

“One of the most difficult situations to fathom is that of a relationship. Whether you're just beginning or already tied down, whether you're teenagers or already a senior citizen - there are many occasions in your relationship that posed, pose or will pose a challenge.”

“Every relation is a work in progress. I believe that happy beginnings are the rule. It's why we get into a relation in the first place. But happy endings, ah, that's the hard part. Only we can make a happy ending. Which means that in between the stories of our lives are the hardships that entail us to make each and every relationship work.”

“Sometimes, when there is trouble in paradise, we need to remember why we even ended up with our significant other the first time around. Was it for fun, for convenience, or for love?”

“It will always take two to tango. There should be honor and respect for one another and most of all, we need to keep each others dignity intact. Each of us provides the pillar of strength for the other. It's really about - for better or worse.”

“We just need to remember that in a relationship, there is no more I. It is all about US.”

And here’s another one which explains the other title of today’s column. It’s from a fellow blogger (my apologies, I got carried away by the contents I forgot to tale note of the source). I dunnow who that friend of his is, but it’s the setting which is so familiar, so familiar especially with all those failed relationships. (The newspaper version of this column contains the sanitized version of the following paragraph)

"A friend recently got entangled in a pseudo-relationship: he didn't know that he was dating a guy who is already attached. Thanks to my loud mouth quite accidentally, he discovered early on. He was, how do you say that again? Devastated. Because the guy is hot, charming, handsome, smart and, uh, hot. And he was beginning to love the jerk, beyond the late-night sex and the amorous text messages. Later, my friend, during comfort episodes, would reveal that the Mr. Jerk was inconsistent and mercurial at times. Tell-tale signs of something amiss in the calculus of Mr. Jerk's so-called affections for my poor friend. Which got me thinking - what is it about jerks anyways that make them so appealing sometimes? Do we get attracted at some point in our lonely lives to the self-destructive skunks? But how?"

“In the article The Mystery of Jerks by Katz and Holmes, the conclusion reads: Admittedly, there are a few people who probably enjoy the histrionics and the moods and the make-up sex that come with dating drama kings and queens. But I'd bet that most are just willing to tolerate the drama, because, thus far, that drama comes attached to the "best" person they could find. Essentially, they're saying, "Yeah, he's inconsistent, selfish, and distant, but he's all mine." Just realize that every second you're spending with the wrong guy is a second that you're not out looking for the right one, the guy who gives, the guy who listens, the guy who learns. Darn, this is all so true. Are you reading this, Honey? (err, Mr. Jerk?)”

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Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

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This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!