Thought for the Week

Timothy D. Stein, MFT, CSAT

November 19, 2012

I Want to Walk With You

What I want
I want to walk with you
I want to hear you say
“Yes, I want that too”
– Toni Childs

Choosing to spend time with, enter a relationship with, or spend the rest of our life with another person is a process that involves two choices.  When we choose to include another person in our life, the process is only half done.  The other person has a choice to make as well.  If they choose to include us in their life, then we can enter and explore this relationship, whether it be a friendship or a romantic relationship.  When we ignore the other person’s choice and act on our desire alone, we are not in relationship – we are in obsession.  Relationship comes from two peoeple choosing to have each other in their lives at this time.  Obsession is choosing to have someone else in your life regardless of their wishes.

Do I give others the option of including me in their life or do I force my way in?  Do I recognize the right for others to choose whether or not to be included in my life?  Do I open myself to mutual relationships or do I create obsession?