“We are all born for love. It is the principle of existence and its only real end.” – Benjamin Disraeli

Relationships are important; there’s no doubt about that. But before we can succeed at connecting with others we need to get clear on what it is we’re getting into. In this post, I’d like to share some of my favorite quotes on the subject:

“The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved. – Victor Hugo

It’s amazing how often relationships are put second while things like advancing in your career and accumulating “stuff” come first. Without other people to share your life with, it really doesn’t matter much at all.

“I am not in this world to live up to other people’s expectations, nor do I feel that the world must live up to mine.” – Fritz Perls

Don’t surround yourself with people who will only bring you down. Instead, choose your friends wisely. Know what values you are looking for. Free your life of riffraff and make sure the people you spend time with make you feel good so you can add value to their lives in return.

“When you love someone, you love the whole person, as they are, and not as you’d like them to be.” – Leo Tolstoy

Understand that you cannot control others. You’ve got to accept them for who they are and not expect them to be what they’re not. Respect their boundaries and don’t try to force them into roles they don’t want to live. And don’t have too many rules about how things need to be because that simply makes it harder.

“Delivering one’s brothers from the yoke is a goal worthy of both death and life.” – Leo Tolstoy

Treat others how you want to be treated. Give as much of yourself in a relationship as you can. Help the person in your life develop and grow. Remember that it will come back to you a thousand times over.

“A good friend is a connection to life – a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.” – Lois Wys

Make time for your relationships because they’re important. Treat them as a priority. Appreciate the people in your life while the relationship still lasts because you never know when it may end. Enjoy the process for what it is.

“Living in a vacuum sucks.” – Adrienne E. Gusoff

Enough said!

(For more resources and tips, download your free copy of “Work in Progress” exclusively from www.varsityblah.com/about)

“Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent.” – Sherlock Holmes

Do good things and good things will happen to you. That’s the essence of Karma (and the TV show My Name is Earl). But does it really work like that? There’s no denying life can sometimes seem pretty unfair. What do you think? Are we all victims to the whims of life or does justice always prevail in the end?

(Eugene Yiga is the editor of Varsity Blah and his latest book is available free, exclusively from www.varsityblah.com/about)