Last Friday, I had an epiphany. In my 2015 blog, I wrote about the 4 ingredients that constitute a relationship. My 2016 blog added another 3. My 2021 blog was a summary. These 7 ingredients define many (or all) types of relationships: communication, forgiveness, intimacy, respect, togetherness, trust and vulnerability. Any type of relationship starts - and ends -...
Togetherness

What constitutes a relationship?
1 Feb, 2021
Recently, a father sent congratulations on his daughter's wedding on Dutch radio. That message also mentioned that this couple is each other's friend. Latter struck a nerve. Despite some exceptions, a lack of friendship is indeed characteristic for my failed relationships. Moreover, the people whom you will miss, are your...
Je m’en fous
10 Oct, 2019
In a recent Dutch language interview with Jean-Claude Juncker, he used a common French expression: "Je m'en fous!" (FD, De Tijd). A polite translation would be: "I don't care" (what others think). The accompanying emotion reveals a more offensive meaning. A recent interview with Swiss philosopher Alain de Botton recommends a similar approach to life...
Compatibility
17 May, 2019
My blogs on happiness and satisfaction resulted in a new and related topic: compatibility a.k.a. "capable of existing together in harmony" (MW). The (in)compatibility of men and women is a source for many writers, like John Gray's 1992 book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, and also many comedians (eg, Mark Gungor's Tale of Two Brains). The reason why...
When is a relationship a relationship? (2)
30 Aug, 2018
My recent blog (When is a relationship a relationship?) did not address the cause for this question. I think, feel and believe that this question relates to our changing perception on Freedom. I addressed this issue before in my 2016 blog: Togetherness: "Over the years, my concept of togetherness has evolved from 'restrictive freedom' to just 'freedom' and then...
Admiration
14 Feb, 2018
Several days ago, I talked to my Brazilian friend. She told me she still admires me. The word admiration struck a nerve. I've never written about admiration in relationships. I do know how important it is: when I lose it, the flame dies. Valentine's Day is an appropriate day for this topic. Research by Dr. John Gottman of the Gottman...
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Framework Posts
Is asking the wrong question essential to learning?
We all like to be needed, wanted or believed
The final taboo
Society’s farewell to the best & brightest
Drivers of Change: a 2022 update
The meaning of Life = living a meaningful life (2)
Quality vs Quantity
New: a proxy World War
“What is faith?”
The dark side of Hope
From pandemic to endemic
How did we get so far??
The positive power of negativity
Common sense, ignorance, stupidity and wisdom
The big-small principle
2021 Conceptual Framework
Life is a revolving door
Why are human beliefs stronger than our conscience?
Let’s work together
Who is to blame for hospital demand exceeding supply?
Dutch PM: “What more can I do??”
Is ideology responsible for stupidity?
Introspection
How do you help yourself?
Asymptomatic
Asymptomatisch
Mechanization, Automation, AI & Robotics
Needs, Wants, Beliefs, Awakening & Wisdom
Tweedeling in de samenleving
Collateral damage
Emptiness
Is politiek nog relevant in Nederland?
The SpaceTime dimension and the alternate Energy-Matter dimension
We need Knowledge, we want Power, and we believe in Love
Is consciousness a dimension not limited by space and time?
The asymptomatic Covid anomaly
What constitutes a relationship?
Everything follows Why (7): the DIKW model
No More Fear of Dying
Mission, goals, strategy, tactics and operations of viruses
Ideology vs pragmatism
Competition vs cooperation
From Knowledge to Power – the 7 Belief systems in the age of monism
The Art of War
Needs, Wants & Beliefs in reverse
2019 corona virus versus 1918 Spanish flu
Awakening – a conceptual framework (2)
Awakening – a conceptual framework
Our search for the truth
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish (2)
Friendship is a goal for women and a tool for men
One question says more than a thousand answers
The 3 roads to Wisdom
The 7 Belief systems – a 2019 update
The inflation conundrum
Theory of Everything (2) – the Flow
Theory of Everything
The art of compromising
Do people have a right to migrate?
I’m entitled to my own opinion, am I??
The 7 stages of Liberalism
Love, Knowledge and Power
Communication, thoughts and language
Personality, Attitude & Behaviour
Conceptual framework (6)
Knowledge = Power and the Great Filter in civilisations (5)
Drivers of Change
The 7 Belief systems – a conceptual framework
Enlightenment vs False Beliefs
Fast vs Slow thinking (3)
Old and wise
Conceptual framework (4) – drivers of human behaviour
The 4 levels of Consciousness – an integrated framework
Conceptual Framework (3) – update
Humanoid sapiens, our future descendants
The road to recovery from a burn-out (3)
Conceptual Framework (2) – Why does evil exist?
The ignorance of Nationalism and arrogance of Globalism
Arrogance of Left and Ignorance of Right
You can only hurt someone with the truth
Sumerian civilization (5): Soul vs Spirit
Everything follows Why
A conceptual framework
Faith, Beliefs and Willpower
The Road to Recovery from a Burn-out or Depression (2)
A brief narrative of the future
Faith vs Religion
The 10 Commandments
The 7 Belief systems – a summary
White Supremacy (2)
Opinions and criticism
Human Emotions (2) – a revisit
Why are opinions stronger than facts?
Numbers – mathematics, space, time, weights & measurements
The “what if” question
What makes a relationship truly unique?
The Great Flood (16,000 BC – 4,000 BC)
The meaning of Life = living a meaningful life
Weather is Your Mood and Climate is Your Personality
Our individual purpose
Recent Posts
- Entitlement
- Loyalty, fidelity and principles
- The reverse currency wars have begun (Axios Macro)
- Fact check: did universal health care prevent corona deaths?
- Why do we have labour shortages?
- Identity vs Power: dialects
- Art vs Science
- Truth or dare?
- Collective vs individual behaviour
- Is Turkey more trouble to NATO than it is worth? (Economist)
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