Soul Mates

Happy Valentine's Day.
A Beautiful day celebrating love and romance. It is originally a Christian holiday, but like many Christian holidays has been taken over by commercialism. This one being cards, candy and jewelry. Oh and restaurants. That's ok, it's the world we live in.
I still think a day celebrating love and romance is wonderful. My husband got me the perfect card, perfect for a Buddhist. It says I sure hope there is reincarnation....because one lifetime isn't enough to be with you. Go ahead, say awww. It is wonderfully sweet. He bought me my favorite chocolates, that he went to 4 different stores to find, and he made me a shoe rack. Three tiers and shaped like stairs with a heart carved into the side. Why a shoe rack? That's what I wanted. Buddhism teaches the middle way. Not deprivation, not overabundance. However, when it comes to certain things, I struggle with the overabundance part, namely clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, and perfume. I'm a girly girl. I love these things, I may have attachment issues with these things, also not advised as a Buddhist. Attachment leads to suffering. I'm working on it. In the mean time.....
My husband. I'm so fortunate to have found my soul mate. He compliments me perfectly. We have been together for 27 years. We were 19 when we met. We have something rare in this society, a healthy, happy marriage. We don't argue. We love and support each other. I couldn't imagine life without him. Every day with him is a gift I treasure. He is the reason whatever I write can be put under romance. When you have epic love in real life how can you not give that to your characters. My fantasy wolf shifter books that I'm writing are inspired by my dogs. I give my book characters some of the personality traits of my pets, but the feelings of love, of finding the other half of your soul, that comes from Andy and I. We have a deep love, and commitment to each other. This is why my characters mate for life, and are bonded heart, mind and soul. Well, Andy and I can't communicate telepathically, at least not yet. :) we don't have to. we've had years to get to know each other; how we thinkfortat our hopes and dreams are; what we desire. I cheat and give that to my characters immediately, through a bond. Lucky them!
If you haven't found your soul mate, keep looking, they're out there. If your in a relationship and you want some advice on how to have what I have, here it is. Three letters. HUM-Sanskrit for acceptance of self and others. Accept them for who they are. If you love them, and they love you, as long as there isn't any abuse, verbal or physical, don't try to change someone to fit what you want, either accept them for who they are or move on. You can't have a healthy relationship without it. Also, accept yourself. If you aren't happy with yourself, how can you expect to be happy with someone else.
I became disabled in 2004 after an accident left me partially paralyzed. This was something that was hard for me to accept. I had HUM tattooed on my spine just above my surgery scar to remind me to do this. HUM is a Sanskrit symbol like OM, incase you were wondering, lol. I also have MS, this I had to accept. I have worked hard. Most days I can walk without my forearm crutches. Pain is my constant companion, but I don't let it interfere with my life. I do not give it my happiness. I could wallow in my misery and misfortune, but where would that get me. I chose to be happy. I chose to look at the things in my life that give me happiness. My husband, my two sons, my little granddaughter, my daughters in law, my 5 dogs and two cats, my gift of creating art, my gift of writing and sharing with the written word. All the love I have in my life from family and friends. How can I be unhappy when faced with all that, when I can look out and see all the beauty this world has to offer. I chose to see it. I chose love, and I choose happiness. That's my advice for not only a happy marriage but a happy life. It's out there, go get it! Happy Valentine's day!! Ahmari out!