There are a lot of circumstances in life that can cause you to want to make new friends. Moving to a new city, going away to college, getting divorced, or finding out you have a “false friend”, to name just a few.
Then, once you’ve made a new friend or two, you’ll want to keep those friendships alive. Our friendship tips can help you both make new friends, and keep the old ones.
What kind of friend are you? Are you someone who others can turn to for support when they are down, can you give them a push at the same time as holding their hand, or are you more focused on just sharing gossip and social outings? How many of the following essential attributes of a true friend do you have?
Non-Judgmental: A true friend will never judge you. They will stand by you no matter what you believe or what you do. They may not agree with you, but they respect your right to make your own mistakes, have your own opinions, and walk the path you choose.
Compassion: A true friend will be the first person to offer you a supporting hand when you fall. They won’t question whether the situation was your own making, they will just help you put things right again. They won’t dismiss your sorrow at losing a pet, or your distress at your favourite team losing, as being non-important. They will know that it is important to you, and that’s all that matters.
Listening: A true friend knows how to listen. Really listen, without feeling the need to talk and turn the conversation focus onto them. They will hear what you say and will be able to let you get your feelings out in the open without interruption.
Trust: A true friend will give you a safe place to be yourself. What you say or do will not be repeated by them to anyone else.
Encouraging: A true friend will help you find your dreams. They will explore your life and help you move towards what you really want in life.
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Friday, April 18, 2008
Tips On How To Make New Friends
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Love Marriages
Whenever we try to find out the relationship between love and marriage both seems to be synonymous. Love is a dream and marriage is a reality. And when both dream and reality comes together it is the best thing that can happen to a person. Have we ever tried to find out what is love actually? Love is the subtle emotional wave within us, which is perennial in this world of death and decay. When we fall in love everything seems different. We start liking and feeling good about things we have overlooked earlier. We feel like we are on a joy ride and everything seems beautiful. The company of the person we love can make the most mundane chores seem like an exciting job. And these feelings of love is not seen later on when you are married to the person you love. So one side love is the feeling, which every one of us wants to experience and marriage is something, which calls for commitment and effort. Any long-term successful relationship calls for effort and hard work. So when we decide to spend the rest of our life together by getting married than only the actual love starts. Love is more like a wonderful feeling, which we all like to experience on the other hand marriage calls for understanding and daily effort. We constantly need to nurture our feelings. It requires mutual respect for each other and time and attention as any other aspect of life. Love marriage can be the best thing if there is effort and commitment from both the side.Love marriages have both pros and cons. It gives us time to know the person with whom we have decided to spend the entire life. We can understand each other in a better manner. On the other hand we start liking each other the way we want to see him or her. And later on after marriage when they behave the way they are it becomes difficult for us to accept. But if you really love somebody than you need to nurture your relation daily. Every relation has certain demands and certain needs to be met if it is to thrive and endure. So if you want to make your love marriage a success than give your marriage some more time and commitment you will see it blooming.If your first love is your life partner than you are the blessed soul on this earth. There is nothing more you can ask for. As love is a feeling, which is experienced best when you are married. A happy marriage will always demand love, empathy, trust, faithfulness and commitment. If you and your partner can exchange these feelings than to sustain your marriage will be really effortless. Love is a magical experience, which ignites passion in human hearts and leaves an impact not possible to calculate. The concept of love is best understood when you spend the entire life with the person you loved. Because you get to share every aspect of love it gives you a sense of fulfillment. So next time when you think of love marriages also think of the responsibility and effort, which you have to put in to make your marriage a success.
Traditional Indian Marriage
India is a land of diverse culture and religion. Every region of the country has its own unique way of celebrating their marriage. Be it east, west, north and south all the four regions have its own wedding customs and rituals. Marriages in India are not just coming together of two individuals and exchange of vows and rings, but it marks the bonding of two souls, two families, their culture and their communities. Indian wedding is not an affair of few hours but it is a matter of several eventful days. All the family members and friends get together for the celebration. It is said that marriages are made in heaven but celebrated in country like India. The marriage rituals and customs unfold different stories behind it. Condensed over centuries of cultural admixture, Indian weddings showcase the rich culture and tradition of India. The practices of Indian wedding are different according to the particular region. There are various rituals with which you can associate an Indian wedding. The wedding celebration is divided into three parts pre wedding, main day and post wedding. The pre wedding rituals vary according to the region. But the ceremony of mehendi is prevalent more or less in every caste and region. The ceremony of mehendi is celebrated mostly at bride's place where female friends and relatives of the bride gather to put henna on bride's feet and hand. Among the other rituals garland ceremony is the most popular rituals, which is celebrated more or less in every part of the country. On this occasion the bride and the groom garland each other as a sign of mutual acceptance. On the main wedding day a wedding altar or mandapa is built on the wedding venue within which the marriage is conducted. The rituals, which were performed on that day is totally based on the regional customs and traditions. The ritual of putting sindoor or vermilion powder in the parting of the bride's hair by the groom is the ritual followed mostly in the northern and eastern part of the country. Rituals like kanyadaan, vidaii, tying of mangal sutra around the bride's neck, saptapadi (seven steps), in which the couple moves seven times together around the fire exchanging the wedding vows, here fire acts as a witness of their marriage. These are some of the common rituals practiced in all the castes.The wedding rituals were initially simple and easy to follow but nowadays it has become more complicated due to unnecessary customs like dowry. The custom of dowry is mostly prevalent in the marriages in villages. In educated and high society families dowry system is not seen so much. But whatever may be the rituals and customs the actual essence behind all wedding celebration is the union of two souls, two families and two communities. And that makes Indian wedding an unique celebration of culture and tradition.
The Wedding Day Preparations
Indian weddings are sacred religious ties between the families of the bride and the bridegroom. They are elaborate, expensive and emotional events, which are eagerly awaited, by all the young girls and boys when they are given royal treatment on this day. The traditional weddings used to be more than a week long though people cut short the events these days. There is an event for almost everything. The main day wedding function involves various rituals and customs, which are to be performed. There are various preparations to be looked after before the min day ceremony.The wedding itself is a long, stretched out process, when all the Hindu deities are called upon and asked to bless the new couple. The bride and the bridegroom take seven steps around the fire, vowing devotion and love to each other and agreeing to take care of each other in all circumstances. There are various events to ensure laughter in the wedding ceremony such as when the younger sister of the bride tries to steal the shoe of her new brother-in-law and asks money as ransom. After the ceremony, the bride leaves for her new home. This is the most emotional moment of any Indian wedding, when the bride take leave of all her family members to start a new life in her husband's home. In the bridegroom's home, an elaborate wedding reception is organized in the honor of the bride where all the family member from both sides are once again invited and dances and songs fill this happy night. There are special traditional songs for all the ceremonies in the Indian weddings that are sung at the various occasions. Elaborate costumes for the bride and the bridegroom add a touch of royalty to the marriage customs.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Finding a Partner
Marriage is an institution in which interpersonal relationships (usually intimate and sexual) are sanctioned with governmental, social, or religious recognition. It is often created by a contract or through civil processes. Civil marriage is the legal concept of marriage as a governmental institution.
Marriage may take many forms: for example, a union between one man and one woman as husband and wife; same - sex between a homosexual couple; polygamy—in which a person takes more than one spouse (marriage partner)—is common in many societies; and, in some jurisdictions and denominations, a same-sex marriage unites people of the same sex. (Other jurisdictions may not allow this, but instead provide civil unions conferring some or all of the benefits of married status.)
People marry for many reasons, but usually one or more of the following: legal, social and economic stability; the formation of a family unit; procreation and the education and nurturing of children; legitimizing sexual relations; public declaration of love; or to obtain citizenship.
A marriage is often declared by a wedding ceremony, which may be performed either by a religious officiant, by a secular government-sanctioned officiator, or (in weddings that have no church or state affiliation) by a trusted friend of the wedding participants. The act of marriage usually creates obligations between the individuals involved, and in many societies, their extended families.
Finding A Partner.
In order to get married, it is necessary to find a suitable partner. A partner may be found by the person wishing to be married through the process of courtship. Alternatively, two marriage candidates may be matched by a third party, typically with the match finalized only if both candidates approve of the union. This is known as an arranged marriage.
The choice between courtship and arranged marriage is made by the person seeking marriage or by his or her parents. In some cases, the parents will be ready to enforce an arranged marriage because of cultural tradition or for some other special reason . It is worth noting however, that in many cases the person seeking marriage is comfortable with having his or her marriage arranged and, even disregarding parental preference, would freely choose an arranged marriage. Actual forced marriage is common in only a few communities and often attracts harsh criticism even from people who are generally in favor of arranged marriage.
Arranged marriage An arranged marriage between Louis XIV of France and Maria Theresa of SpainA pragmatic marriage is made easier by formal procedures of family or group politics. A responsible authority sets up or encourages the marriage; they may, indeed, engage a professional matchmaker to find a suitable spouse for an unmarried person. The authority figure could be parents, family, a religious official, or a group consensus.
In some cases, the authority figure may choose a match for purposes other than marital harmony. Some of the most popular uses of arranged marriage are for dowry or immigration.
Though now a rarity in Western countries, arranged marriages in countries such as India are still prevalent today. In urban India, people use thriving institutions known as Marriage Bureaus or Matrimonials Sites, where candidates register themselves for small fees.