The Link Between Love and Sacrifice

Many stories in the media often depict love as an incredible experience. From fairytales to romcoms, nothing gives you happiness more than finding the love of your life.

While true, we must understand that many love stories often require sacrifice. Whether it's Princess Wendelyn looking for a rare pearl necklace to give to the magical hag—there is no doubt that the course of love never runs smooth. For the modern audience, it could be something like a romantic comedy heroine having to sacrifice her dreams for the greater good. Whatever the reason, many sacrifices often go unnoticed—that's what makes love all the sweeter and more painful.

Nevertheless, love requires sacrifice. However, there are limits you have to understand. One is that you should never sacrifice your dignity and self-respect. If the person is an ideal partner, he should never ask you to beg, plead, or throw away your self-respect to appease his ego. Ideally, it would help if you didn't ask them to do the same.

Another is that you should never sacrifice your peace of mind. While arguments and fights happen, living in constant fear that your partner may blow up could cause you more harm than good. Fearing your partner's reaction isn't normal; if anything, it's a red flag.

Lastly, it would be best never to sacrifice your hopes and dreams. While some goals are indeed not realistic, there are some things you should have in a relationship. Some examples include expecting a loving relationship, having a respectful dynamic, and eventually growing old together. If your partner can't even respect that, perhaps you're better off seeking happiness elsewhere.

Of course, these are just some instances of things you shouldn't sacrifice so lightly. Depending on your set of values, I'm sure there are plenty of other conditions you would want your ideal partner to respect. Just remember to respect their wishes as well.

by Ryke Leigh Douglas 

Why You Should Teach Your Children about Romantic Love

Princess Wendelyn is a beautiful princess who lives in a gorgeous kingdom with her father, the king. While she had everything a princess wanted, she longed to have a prince with whom to spend the rest of her life.

When she told her father of this wish, her father was adamant in his stance. He told her she didn't need to be with a husband since she had everything she could need. Unfortunately, the king's firm stance made Wendelyn very depressed, and she had to seek the help of a hag to make sure her wish came true.

When you think about how the story progresses, you wonder: "What if the king hadn't been so quick to deny the princess' wish? Would it have changed anything? Would Wendelyn have been able to find her prince with his help?"

Whatever the answer is, we cannot give a firm answer. While the princess has managed to find her prince in the end, it was not without sacrifice. Fortunately, her kindness saved her from a terrible fate, and she could be with the prince of her dreams. Her father, who also learned how much his daughter loved the prince, was willing to let his daughter marry the prince in the end.

As you can see, all worked out. Still, we can't deny that it would have probably saved the princess a lot of heartaches if her father had been a bit more open-minded in the beginning.

However, that isn't always the case. As parents, it's their expected duty to make sure their child is safe and treated well. While the king was able to meet his daughter's basic needs, he couldn't understand that she needed romantic companionship that goes beyond parental love. As children grow up, it is up to the parents to ensure they are with someone suitable and respectful—lest their children seek the aid of a witch!

While it's certainly awkward to talk about the trials of dating and courtship to your little ones, the benefits of showing them what makes a healthy relationship outlives the negatives. Once you teach them what a healthy relationship is, you can find peace knowing that your children will grow up well-adjusted and happy.

by Ryke Leigh Douglas

Living a Fairytale is more than just Happy Endings

How important is a child to learn proper morals and good values? How do you see yourself aiding children in their journey to become happy and contented? We all know that living a fairytale is more than just happy endings; it's how we get up and face our realities that can differ from person to person. 

They say that a child can only do so much they can handle. I believe no such thing. Just as Princess Wendelyn succeeded in finding the witch's pearls and saving her prince, children can do whatever they want just as their hearts desire it. Do not get me wrong; it is never a form of disobedience when your child fails to follow your every word. It simply allows them to find their own way, make their own mistakes, and see their lives for how they see them.

We do not condemn children to a place where they will feel trapped and unhappy. We are not the dictator of anybody else but ourselves. 

"It's a mistake not to give people a chance to learn to depend on themselves while they are young." -Walt Disney.

While we are set to face the world in rigorous times, it is never too late to be the best examples we could be for our children. They are not pets that we command over, but they are people waiting for their chances to grow and become established individuals in our society someday. 

A fairytale is something we dream of having, a charming partner, a beautiful home, and abundant possessions. But living a fairytale is more than just happy endings. What we desire today is not the actuality we will get in the future. Wanting your children to succeed your way may hinder them from truly thriving in life.

by Ryke Leigh Douglas 

When Children Experience Reality

Reality is always as harsh as it could get. The rough start of the year 2022 is an uphill battle for most countries in the world. Despite the pandemic, some households are experiencing fires, floods, the loss of a loved one, or even poverty. During these times, we frequently forget that there is more to reality than meets the eye. We experience pain as we experience happiness. We feel love just as we feel hatred. As such, it is not all the time our situations are at their worst because there are always two sides to every coin. 

Is there a brighter side to reality? Well, yes. Our children, whom we can count on for their imagination and creative thinking, are the ones we often disregard in times of hardships thinking they cannot contribute as much, but we are wrong. Instead of banning them from speaking up, being a 'know it all,' or even refusing them to aid us in our troubles in life, we should invite them to family meetings and make serious conversations. When children experience reality, there is a whole new perspective to see.

What you must very well know is that life will get more challenging as you go further into it; you must appreciate every little thing that will come your way- especially your children.

When children experience reality, they see it as an obstacle to overcome. Tight on money? They try to help you through understanding and patience, for they cannot buy as many toys as the other kids can. You can't take care of the dog? They would step up and assist you by playing with your dog whenever you're busy. The thing is, children are receptive to the environment they are in. They know when you are sad, and they know when there is a problem. Sometimes they tell you, and sometimes they don't. Such is the wisdom of a kid.

A child's imagination can reach limitless ends as they come up with creative solutions to their problem. You don't have to be frightened; let them know what is occurring because they will understand and help you. 

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."   — Stacia Tauscher

by Ryke Leigh Douglas 

Importance of Reading in a Child’s education

A community with a strong foundation is a step closer to a successful nation. What better way to strengthen one's nation than to shape their children with utmost love and importance. Children have a profound talent for learning new things. They come and go through places and pick up bits of pieces of information that help build who they will become in the future. 

As such, it is highly necessary that we allow our children to grow through mediums that affiliate their minds to the great body of knowledge available for them for consumption. Thus, the importance of reading in a child's education.

Why is it essential for a child to read and re-read everything they learn? Why is it necessary for adults to pave children's way toward a knowledgeable future built with proper information and access their inner creativity through the many literary pieces available throughout history?

A child is but a sapling of a great tree waiting to be nurtured. Their capabilities are never limited, and the possibilities for their future are endless. If we do it right, children will ought to grow magnificently in the best place possible. 

Be it in a humble home in the woods to the great halls of a palace, children are clays yet to be molded by the environment around them. Such is the fate of high leaders and their destinies to lead humanity to a better tomorrow. Walt Disney would not have created the Disney world if his friends and family did not support him through his endeavors, and so did Dr. Seuss. 

I believe in the saying, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." - Frederick Douglass.

The fact that we are responsible for our children's growth is one thing that should encourage us to step our lullabies further. The importance of reading in a child's imagination will spike their interests in this big, big world. The task to equip our children with the knowledge they so deserve to know is like preparing our own soldiers for war. We never know how strong they will become if we let ourselves be their teachers. What better way to show them what is waiting for them than through books! 

by Ryke Leigh Douglas 

A Child is a Gem

Children are the most precious gifts we have in this world. A child's mind is in of itself an extraordinary thing filled with ideas and limitless imagination that we, as adults, fail to realize a child's potential to do great things. Often dismissing children as inferior to adults, we tend to shy away from all opportunities that might associate our children with the great opportunities that await them.

A child is a gem. The way they adapt to their surroundings is at a rate no adult could easily do. If you cultivate a home filled with love, support, and nurturing, your children will hold the same values wherever they go. If you develop a home with hatred and anger, then they, too, shall be filled with anger and resentment.

Did you know that compared to adults, children are the faster learners? Their curiosity peaks through their hyperactivity and constant nagging. They seek adventure wherever they may find them, regardless if they're only pretending. They often see a world beyond reality that brings their souls to life, keeps them happy, and keeps this world alive and kicking. 

The fresh ideas we get and the innovations we see every day are results of experiences and ideas brought upon a person's inner creativity that was cultivated through their childhood. Children are our hope for tomorrow, and it's never too late to give our children what they deserve most in this world- nurturing.

A child is a gem and so Walt Disney said, "Every child is born blessed with a vivid imagination. But just as a muscle grows flabby with disuse, so the bright imagination of a child pales in later years if he ceases to exercise it." Nurture our children with love and care so they, too, will nurture our world.

by Ryke Leigh Douglas 

Parenting 101: Guiding Our Children through Love

As parents, witnessing our child grow is among the plenty bittersweet moments in our lives. Accepting that they won’t always be our baby is hard but it’s part of life’s cycle and there’s no other way around it. It is our sole responsibility to be with them and guide them as they discover and learn what it takes to live. We must cherish every passing moment with them from their first words, first steps, first laughter until their first experience with school, human interaction, and of course love and heartbreak. 

When children reach the age where they begin to feel things towards others, it’s extremely paramount that we are with them in this chapter, now more than ever. We of all people should know how tough this stage is, and sometimes how damaging. There are two parental approaches I discourage when it comes to dealing with our child’s romantic discovery. Let’s face it, dear parents, they’ll get there and we have to be ready in being the parents and friends they need.

The first negative approach to this is being too strict. Banning your child from understanding the risks and dangers of emotions will eventually lead to rebellion. This is how rebellious, secretive, and impulsive kids are shaped. Aside from that, kids will begin to lie to you and resort to others for advice that may not be the one they need. The second negative approach is letting your kids too much on their own — not supervising them, not listening to what they have to say and blankly nodding on their stories, and saying, “You’re old enough to know that” or “You should know what to do and face the consequences in the future”. This kind of approach will cause your child to be careless in his/her decisions and explore “too much” of the romance at a young and innocent age. So what is the best approach to effectively educate your child in love? Balance. There should be a balance between being strict and in giving them their freedom. We are parents, we should slowly introduce what love is, what it can do to our minds, and how it can affect everything in our life. We should also remind them that every good and bad decision they make for love results in either a rise or decline in their progress in life. We don’t have to decide for them but we have to be the first people they run to when things go bright or dark for them because of love.

We won’t always be around to watch over them but as much as we can, our guidance through one of their strongest stage in life will leave a strong lesson that will help them surpass anything. We can’t stop them from feeling, we just have to let them know we’re here to feel with them.

by Ryke Leigh Douglas

Communication Makes a Relationship Healthy

A powerful tool that strengthens the bond between couples is communication. Vocal speaking, facial expressions, gestures, body language, and even eye contact are various ways of exchanging messages from one person to the other. As little as they seem, they have a huge impact on forming and/or reinforcing relationships. These can either make or break a romantic, familial, or even friendly connection. 

It is paramount to be expressive and honest in all situations. A healthy relationship is one where two people understand the other’s need to let out opinions, thoughts, and feelings to allow individual and dual growth. If you are in a situation where you have to hold back what you have to say to protect the other person’s ego or vice versa, then there is a need for both parties to sit down and calmly get things straight. Otherwise, both of you will end up growing further apart, which can lead to bitter endings.  Silence can even be a form of communication. There can be this serene silence between two people that’s comforting and relaxing, and there can also be this loud, deafening silence that tightens our chest. Any form of communication occurs when the people involved are willing to communicate, even if it means not slipping out a single word.

There are also instances when listening can be the best way to communicate, not speaking. Being there for the other person, keeping quiet, and letting him/her release everything he/she has been carrying for a long time allows the other person to know that you’re here, you’re present, and he/she is not alone in this battle. This is because sometimes, the other person already knows and understands the situation and doesn’t need comfort, rather, he/she just wants to let things out, that’s all. We all want a healthy relationship, who doesn’t? However, a beautiful and healthy relationship isn’t given, it is a joint process that requires teamwork. It is slow but sure progress, and it begins with knowing how to properly and effectively communicate.

by Ryke Leigh Douglas

Love Comes in All Shapes and Sizes

Do you ever find yourself trying to be a different person just to capture the attention of someone you like? Well, you are not alone. We all have our fair share of insecurities and desire to be different for the sake of romance. The common standards for society in a partner will always be good-looking, smart, and talented. For us who believe we are average or less, we tend to belittle ourselves and manipulate our thoughts thinking we will never be worthy of love unless we change. It took me quite some time to realize that I’ve been too harsh on myself. Love sees beyond worldly things, it does not search for the perfect partner, it brings out the imperfectly perfect version of us and it pairs us with our right match. 

We all know that confidence takes us far but having to be confident even if it makes us unhappy and uncomfortable with who we’re trying to be isn’t confidence, it’s all a stageplay. Love does not choose skin color, weight, height, face shape, eyes, clothing style, voice, hair, and abilities. Love takes more than just what meets the eyes, it goes beyond petty and unrealistic preferences. The beautiful kind of love is majestic, ethereal, and indescribable — it knows no adjectives. If you ever find a partner who makes you ashamed of who you are, drop that person right away. He/she surely doesn’t know what love is. 

Always keep this in mind: You don’t have to change yourself who sets you apart from who you truly are just for the love you feel towards someone. If you ever have to change, improve, and develop, it should always be for your happiness and never for someone else.  “Love is blind” is a negative notion on this matter. Instead think of it this way, when you close your eyes or choose not to hear and still feel at home in the arms of a particular person, that’s when you’ll realize that true love will accept you for who you are even if it means not meeting societal standards. 

by Ryke Leigh Douglas

Does True Love Really Wait?

Love is the most beautiful thing in the world. It makes us soft, inspired, driven, and alive. There are different forms of love — familial, friendly, and romantic. But for today, let’s talk about the latter. Romantic love is the kind of love we share with a partner whom we look forward to being with every single day of our lives. That one person we’re willing to go through ups and downs with. We can see little kids crushing on their playmates, teens sporting new looks for someone they admire on campus, adults proposing to their girlfriends and boyfriends, and old couples feeding each other ice cream at the park. Love is a lovely sight indeed.

However, not everyone is quite lucky with this thing. We can be the best versions of ourselves already, at the peak of our success, ticked everything off from our bucket list, but we still haven’t found our heart’s missing half. We often hear others cheering us up and saying, “It’s okay because we all have our different timings. True love can wait. Just be patient and it will come” but it’s not a comforting thing to hear. Sometimes, listening to that advice causes us to end up growing old alone. No, we shouldn’t rush love but love works in magically mysterious ways and it doesn’t come around just by sitting in the corner. If we want to be in love, we have to get out there, enjoy life, make the most out of everything, and who knows? We might bump into our future life partners or realize that they’ve been with us all along!

Love is formed out of a moment we share with another person. It doesn’t come up knocking on our doors saying, “Hi stranger! We were made for each other and I’m here now”. No, it doesn’t work like that. We can’t help falling in love inside one minute with a total stranger if in that single minute we weren’t afraid to show who we truly are.  Does true love wait? Hmm maybe it can, but it’s best to be worked on.

by Ryke Leigh Douglas