It really does matter how we exit our relationships. If we get into unhealthy patterns of throwing people away, or cutting them off without so much as a word, we damage ourselves. And we damage other people who were simply caught being human.

The perfect gift this Valentine's Day may just be imperfection -- deciding to not fear it, together. Vow to each other that you'll hang in differently with a fight.

Did I blame myself for what felt like some emotional abuse? Of course not. But at the same time I had to face facts. I'd made a poor choice. I hadn't acted like the person I wanted to be. And it negatively impacted others.

Ultimately, it is always in our own self-interest to be open and vulnerable rather than to be nasty or write people off. The only person we can control is ourselves. When we get cynical, we are the ones who suffer.

Uncomfortable situations almost always contain valuable information or a lesson. I have found that if I ask what lies beneath my discomfort I discover more about myself and how I relate to others.