>>I honestly believe -- and have been told I'm unusual for this belief -- that
>>in a relationship, friendship should come before romance. Personally, I've
>>*never* fallen head over heels in love with someone unless I was friends
>>first. Maybe it *is* a little cynical, but I just don't believe in love at
>>first sight, for myself anyway.
>
>I think you are unusual, though not unique, in this respect--it's been
>my experience that for most people, once they perceive you as a friend,
>they will no longer ever be able to perceive you as a potential romantic
>possibility. Personally, I think your way is more reasonable, but it's
>still very much the less popular tactic.
>
>Trygve
I think thanks to the novel and movie world we all have this contention that
love and friendship is two sides of a coin. The connotation of "just a friend"
we perceive as "sorry, but I don't think of you beyond that" or "I don't love
you that way anymore". This a falacy! You cannot separate friendship from loveanymore than you can grow an apple without a tree (you can try, some do).
Friendship must come first and then deepen into real love. If it goes the otherway first then it is most likely a physical attraction or infatuation. If you
bypass all the steps and hop into a relationship (or bed) then the chances are
doomed to be short and/or miserable later. If you are one of those whose first
sight discovery skyrocketed into the dream of your life, if you ask around, you
won't find a majority of luck like that. Over 90% of people today come from
dysfunctional upbringing and are drowning in bad relationships or stayin away
from the good ones because of following unfortuneately learned habits or advice.If you think that you can't be friends with a lover or a friend cannot be your
lover, then that's what you will get (probably a short romance). The average
lenght of time for a relationship today is 3 months because that's about how
long it takes for us to drop our acts or method-of-operation and be ourselves.
Your friends know your true selves and they will make the longest lovers and
potential soul mate. The ones who will be most dear, will be the ones near the most.