MUST READ: One thing that's certain about your life

If there's one thing that's certain about your life, it's that it isn't perfect.

Don't fret. Neither is mine. Neither is anyone else's. And that's precisely the beauty of it all.

Not having everything we want makes us appreciate what we have even more. Think about it: If we had everything we could possibly desire, wouldn't that make life, well, a tad boring?

There's no such thing as the perfect job. There will always be something or someone at work that isn't to our liking. If our jobs were perfect, they'd be called a hobby. But in order to keep food on the table and a roof over our head, we have to make some concessions.

There's no such thing as the perfect partner. Just as we say "batteries included" for many of the items we buy, you can rest assured that your partner comes with "flaws included." There's no such thing as a perfect human being. We have no choice but to take the good with the bad if he or she is someone we envision being with over the long haul.

There's no such thing as the perfect day. As good as you may think your day is going, something always happens to make it fall short of perfect. Maybe you get stuck in traffic, have an argument with your husband, lose your wallet, or realize you've gained five pounds.

But just because your life isn't perfect doesn't mean it can't be perfect enough for you. Happiness is largely a state of mind. The more you think about what you have as opposed to what you don't have, the more you realize your life really isn't that bad after all. Sure, there are things about your job or partner that may drive you up a wall sometimes, but it's important not to lose sight of the favorable attributes. Perhaps you wouldn't trade the flexibility your job affords or your girlfriend's sense of humor for anything/anyone else in the world.

Even the word "perfect" is subjective in and of itself. Maybe my idea of perfect is curling up at home on Sunday with a cup of hot cocoa and a great book in hand, while yours involves mountain climbing or deep sea diving in China or Peru. Perhaps my idea of the ideal partner is one who loves comedy movies and Italian food, while you dig horror-loving vegetarians.

If our lives weren't imperfect in some ways, we would never have anything to improve upon or look towards. Life isn't about wanting what you don't have, but wanting (and appreciating) what you do have while taking steps to further enhance it.

None of us will ever have everything we could wish for in life, but in the end, that's probably a good thing. It keeps us on our toes and, more importantly, allows us to cherish the things and people in our lives that so many others in the world would kill to have in theirs.

Smile, be grateful, and focus on the positive. Things could be far worse.

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n

Misconceptions about quiet people

Earlier today, I came across a Facebook page that features motivational quotes intended to improve people's moods and enhance their overall self-esteem. Interestingly, I noticed two quotes that focus specifically on quiet people: "Be afraid of quiet people; they're the ones who actually think." "The quietest people have the loudest minds." I've observed that most people's views of quiet individuals can fall under one of two categories: 1. The ones who say quiet people are antisocial, suspicious, snobbish, and/or full of themselves. 2. The people who say their introspective nature and propensity to be deep in thought makes them smarter than their more garrulous peers. The quotes above speak to this mindset. As an introvert known to be quiet at work and at social functions where I might not know anyone, I feel I'm well positioned to dispel any inaccuracies surrounding quiet folks. First of all, the above statements misguidedly put

Understand People

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