Comments on: 5 Reasons You Should Treat Your Partner Like Your Dog http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/ Live on Your Own Terms Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:35:40 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Suzann http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-517 Suzann Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:51:27 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-517 What a lovely article, so sweet and so "right on." What a lovely article, so sweet and so “right on.”

]]> By: JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-507 JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:42:15 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-507 I had to smile :) I enjoyed this soooo I emailed it to a couple of coupled up friends (sofiee!! aww) tip #5 - I have a dog and am still amazed at how she'll come over after I yelled at her (and then..maybe stomped off) I wonder if she remembers at all or does it just not matter This was a thoughtful piece and a good read- thank you :) I had to smile :) I enjoyed this soooo I emailed it to a couple of coupled up friends

(sofiee!! aww)

tip #5 – I have a dog and am still amazed at how she’ll come over after I yelled at her (and then..maybe stomped off)
I wonder if she remembers at all or does it just not matter

This was a thoughtful piece and a good read- thank you :)

]]> By: Tom Volkar / Delightful Work http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-503 Tom Volkar / Delightful Work Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:38:25 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-503 I like this. "Love comes from within first, with out second." Obviously we have almost no expectations for the behavior of our pets. Regardless of it we accept them as they are. I wonder if by softening our expectations if our disappointments wouldn't be so crushing. Good thoughtful post. I like this. “Love comes from within first, with out second.”
Obviously we have almost no expectations for the behavior of our pets. Regardless of it we accept them as they are. I wonder if by softening our expectations if our disappointments wouldn’t be so crushing. Good thoughtful post.

]]> By: Evelyn http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-499 Evelyn Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:46:07 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-499 Interesting observation that we treat our pets better than we treat our partners. Great post! Evelyn Interesting observation that we treat our pets better than we treat our partners. Great post!

Evelyn

]]> By: Couldn’t have said it better myself « Come Here Often? http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-489 Couldn’t have said it better myself « Come Here Often? Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:42:25 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-489 [...] April 17, 2008 by comehereoften Genius. Everyone, please read why you should treat your partner like your dog. [...] [...] April 17, 2008 by comehereoften Genius. Everyone, please read why you should treat your partner like your dog. [...]

]]> By: Max Norman http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-488 Max Norman Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:34:32 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-488 Great post! I particulary agree with the last item, "Forgive and forget." I have seen many relationships on awry due to conflicts over trivial past events. Partners get into a mode where they loose all self confidence because they're afraid that they'll be nailed for something they said in the past, and they don't want to stir it up. It is very important to move on after conflicts, and forget them. Really enjoyed the post! Max Great post! I particulary agree with the last item, “Forgive and forget.” I have seen many relationships on awry due to conflicts over trivial past events. Partners get into a mode where they loose all self confidence because they’re afraid that they’ll be nailed for something they said in the past, and they don’t want to stir it up. It is very important to move on after conflicts, and forget them.

Really enjoyed the post!

Max

]]> By: Sharon http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-483 Sharon Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:22:16 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-483 I love when you say "with cat's it can get very confusing" and wonderful in the sense that they are the guardians of our souls, they bring us to the NOW ... or so I believe .. the essence of who we are without judgment or blame or any of the other nutzoid concepts our thoughts, our minds, conjure up. The overall message (and I think what you've done is called an analogy) is so very true, yet the complexity (for us) lies in the fact that humans have an ego, animals do not. We have trouble sensing the essence of another human because we all have such strong ideas of who we are or want to be that it masks the true person. Underneath that is a dog, a cat, a hamster. It is not only our quest to see and understand that? but it should be our goal to attain that within ourselves. I love when you say “with cat’s it can get very confusing” and wonderful in the sense that they are the guardians of our souls, they bring us to the NOW … or so I believe .. the essence of who we are without judgment or blame or any of the other nutzoid concepts our thoughts, our minds, conjure up. The overall message (and I think what you’ve done is called an analogy) is so very true, yet the complexity (for us) lies in the fact that humans have an ego, animals do not. We have trouble sensing the essence of another human because we all have such strong ideas of who we are or want to be that it masks the true person. Underneath that is a dog, a cat, a hamster. It is not only our quest to see and understand that? but it should be our goal to attain that within ourselves.

]]> By: Clay Collins | The Growing Life http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-482 Clay Collins | The Growing Life Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:48:17 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-482 I'm very proud of your readers for not introducing ribald humor. It could have gone there very fast :-). Another good post. --Clay I’m very proud of your readers for not introducing ribald humor. It could have gone there very fast :-). Another good post.

–Clay

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-478 Jonathan Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:54:10 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-478 @ apricot: I think she'd be proud too. Sometimes I wish my life were as simple as hers. @ GoingPrimal: Amazing huh? I think there's a great lesson of acceptance to be learned here. @ Ali: That's a tough one. I think the best thing you can do for him is accept him as he is and just set a good example. By setting an example for making healthy choices you'll likely have a greater effect on him then you would nagging, or making him feel guilty. He needs to feel accepted and empowered, not judged. I hope that helps. =) @ apricot: I think she’d be proud too. Sometimes I wish my life were as simple as hers.

@ GoingPrimal: Amazing huh? I think there’s a great lesson of acceptance to be learned here.

@ Ali: That’s a tough one. I think the best thing you can do for him is accept him as he is and just set a good example. By setting an example for making healthy choices you’ll likely have a greater effect on him then you would nagging, or making him feel guilty. He needs to feel accepted and empowered, not judged. I hope that helps. =)

]]> By: Ali from The Office Diet http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-477 Ali from The Office Diet Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:38:27 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/2008/04/15/5-reasons-you-should-treat-your-partner-like-your-dog/#comment-477 Hi Jonathan, Nice analogies, and sensitively done. How do you reconcile "# 1. Accept your partner just as he or she is" with "# 4. Be compassionate, but don’t be a doormat"? I love my boyfriend dearly just as he is, but he's quite overweight and I know it's bad for his health and self-esteem. I'm not sure how best to encourage him to get fitter and healthier without him feeling that I'm nagging, criticising, or saying that he's not good enough. Any ideas..? Thanks for a thoughtful post! Best, Ali Hi Jonathan,

Nice analogies, and sensitively done. How do you reconcile “# 1. Accept your partner just as he or she is” with “# 4. Be compassionate, but don’t be a doormat”?

I love my boyfriend dearly just as he is, but he’s quite overweight and I know it’s bad for his health and self-esteem. I’m not sure how best to encourage him to get fitter and healthier without him feeling that I’m nagging, criticising, or saying that he’s not good enough. Any ideas..?

Thanks for a thoughtful post!

Best,

Ali

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