It is a risk when we try to become closer to others... but often it is well worth that risk!

I agree about expectations... that and also the control issues rise. We become disillusioned if we go into a relationship with expectations of control.

The only person I can control is myself. That goes for each of us, really. So when a relationship fails, it isn't just the other person's doing or lack of doing, it's partially our own too.

What's important I think is that we learn from each failed relationship. Trying to evaluate it, find all points of view, take the good from it and move on. What can we learn about ourselves in each of these experiences?

It's very easy to say the other person wasn't a true friend. Sometimes that's true. But true friendship, imo, causes both sides to keep working at the relationship when things go sour, as they do at times.

It takes a strong person to look at what they need to do to make stronger friendships, and then set about correcting the weaknesses. It also takes a wise person to know when to leave a relationship, and leave the ill feelings with it.

((((FuBe))))