DO you take people for granted in your life?

In the initial stages of any relationship-professional or personal, we are careful and attentive to the needs of others. We may even anticipate them and fulfill them; Then something strange happens, familiarity breeds contempt.

You will find that you have unconsciously taken the relationship for granted. This will continue, until, for most of us, we get a wake up call; Alas by the time we wake up it is too late.

How do we prevent this?

Here are some important steps in this regard:

1. Look for opportunities you are missing with that person to fulfill her unspoken needs
2. Examine whether you have missed out on fulfilling some of her expressed needs
3. Look back and check what fun activities you were doing together which you have completely stopped
4. Anticipate her needs and make a list of them
5. Look at the points that emerge from first four steps and develop an action plan
6. Surprise her completely by doing something for her from the list you have drawn
7. Start slow and gradually increase pace

Try this and you will be more surprised than she will be.

How careful are you about your child's friends?

A professional colleague in Canada once told me that he was worried that his children are being raised by their classmates and friends. Children being raised by other children! To me, that was very scary.

I believe parents need to be in control, of the kind of friends, their children associate themselves with.

Many of us, as parents, are careful and have our watchful eyes on our children. We may even prevent or dissuade our children from associating with some of their friends. This fine in the actual physical world where we can see, hear, and then assess the impact of the friends our children mingle with.

However a large number of parents forget the Internet.
The greatest dangers are:

• email
• Chats
• Face book
• Orkut
• Other Internet interactions-Yahoo answers
• Groups
• You tube

The list can go on.

When was the last time you checked on your son's contacts in his email or the kind of chats your daughter is having with and with whom?

What about the face book? What kind of comments are being written on your child's wall?

Internet brings the world to your child.

No matter how careful you are in the actual physical world, the virtual world may destroy every effort you exercise to protect your child.

Check your child's internet activities. You may be surprised! There is also a good chance you may be shocked!

Time to take charge;Time to let go

To be in control of everything in your life constantly, is an illusion; So is to visualize everything in your life is out of control. What we need is balance.

There are times when it is possible to have some degree of control over large areas of life but there are also times when letting go is a wise thing to do.

This is important, especially in times of extreme shock coming from some life altering event. In those times we need to let go without feeling guilty while realizing that after an appropriate length in time we will regain the control back.

Knowing this important principle can save you from lot of grief.

Think about it!