When you said “Remember, I’m sure there are people in your life who, if for some reason they walked away and blamed you for something, you would want a second chance or to clear the air or whatever.” I agree, yes I would like to be given a second chance but I would never expect someone who I shut out or wronged to come to me first and try to make amends. From my perspective that’s my role (if in fact I wanted that relationship to be re-kindled).

I know full well that my inaction is my choice and I’m 100% okay with my choice. It may not be what everyone would do or indeed should do (certainly a very personal decision) but it is what I would do and allows me to be true to who I am.

I really do appreciate your comment and for offering a different perspective on a very tough subject.
All the best,
Sherri

Remember, I’m sure there are people in your life who, if for some reason they walked away and blamed you for something, you would want a second chance or to clear the air or whatever. Since I myself would want others to have compassion on me if I wronged them and to have the chance to make things right regardless of how much time has passed, that’s how I will always treat others in my life that offend me.

Well, I believe in the saying, “to each his own.” We each react to situations and relationships differently. Family, friends and other loved ones are important – more so if the love between them is reciprocated and built stronger.

P.S. Check out http://budurl.com/hw8s to see how successful relationships could not only improve life but businesses too.

Be true to yourself and you’ll be happier for it as will the people around you.

Thanks again everyone!

Fabulous post. I think we all kind of have a picture in our head of what we hoped our family life and the relationships within would be like. I’ve always wanted a closer immediate family, not just the I’ll-see-you-over-the-holidays type. The closer family makes the time, makes the family a priority. That requires ALL parties to be involved. As much as any one person hopes that the family be closer, it requires much more than the hope of only one person.

The most important relationship you can have is the one with yourself. You have to be who you are, and you always need to respect exactly who you are. It’s not about ego, it’s being true to that which you are. And without that, real and lasting inner peace will simply not be possible.

Thanks for sharing your self with the world!

Peter

But the most important bit is this simple phrase: “t means you’re living true to yourself”.

I think those words are the most important, we only have our life, if we are not true to ourselves then what do we have?

This question relates to how perfect we want to be, we can’t be perfect and so we can’t stay in good terms with everyone. Sometimes as autumnesf said, it is best to stay away from toxic relationships and people who can help us at all.

Wonderful post Sherri and thanks for sharing it with us. =)
Alejandro Reyes´s last blog ..Harder than I thought…

Your feelings are so true. After reading the post and the comments I feel that we need not to apologize for something not wrong done by us. We have to guard our emotions.

I know that the thoughts are there in the background and give us pain when we think about it. And makes us to write an apology letter thinking “it has to start at one end and so why not me”.

We need to learn to move on. Life is like a stream which has to flow forward on its journey. The minute the water gets stagnant it gets polluted.

And when we have kids, we need to learn to separate the kids from this issue as mentioned by Hugh.

Best Wishes,
Cheryl Paris Blog
Cheryl Paris´s last blog ..How to boost your attitude to success

Well, this one hit home. You brought tears to my eyes.

Yes, like many of us, my birth family is less than perfect. And I have relationships that sound just like yours.

My parents really pour on the pressure for everyone to “just get along”, even to the point of stating that, “If I really loved us (my parents) then you’d do this (socialize with these embittered strained relations).

And we live close by, too.

But I just do what I have to do. Raise our children, live our lives, and avoid at all costs the bitter anger and judgment of unhappy people who don’t even know who we are, anyway.

I love my family. But I feel no obligation to love or be with others merely as a result of the accident of birth. I go with who I choose. And I refuse to be forced into caustic environments (and certainly don’t let my kids be exposed to it, either).

It is clear that many disagree with me (my parents included), but that’s the way it has to be.

I don’t resent my strained relations, but I honestly do resent the pressure from my (now quite elderly) parents.

So, anyway, I get you 100%.

I wish you all the best and much more joy than sorrow in your life.

All the best,

Hugh

There are people from my past that I just don’t associate with anymore, some family, some friends and in some people’s eyes that makes me rude. But the best I can do is ask is this relationship more helpful or harmful? And go from there.