Emotional Baggage

What are you carrying with you? Emotional baggage usually carries a negative undertone in relationships. The reality is that we all carry emotional baggage into our relationships. Date someone long enough and soon after the good and not-so-good issues begin to surface. Emotional baggage is those attitudes, behaviors and feelings we have learned growing up at home and have also picked up through our life experiences. Have you ever thought about your own baggage? How are you used to resolving conflict at home? Does everyone sit to discuss the issue or do you all simply argue until someone gives up or perhaps is the one that yells louder the one who gets to win? A habit that perhaps you hated and saw people doing when you were growing up down the road can become a pattern in your own life.

Think about what your family background has taught you in these areas:
Communication / Handling Stressful Situations / Expressing Feelings / Expressing Love or Affection / Problem Solving / Unity / Discipline and Rules / Moral or Spiritual convictions / Trust and Honesty

So think about it, what kind of baggage are you carrying around? What are the good attitudes, behaviors and feelings you want to bring into your relationships? What part of your emotional baggage would you want to get rid of or change?

Dating Violence, It Could Happen To You

If you have been watching the news you probably have heard the news reports on Chris Brown and Rihanna’s alleged domestic violence situation. According to reports charges are yet to be filed in this case. Rumors along with images of the alleged situation have circulated the internet. The truth is there is so much to this story that we don't know. The fact is that this story has brought the issue of Dating and Domestic Violence to the front pages and in light of that MTV decided to do a special on it. Here’s a clip of the series MTV ran on this story.

MTV's Special: Chris Brown & Rihanna: Love in Trouble



This week we will take a look at what dating violence is, how dangerous patterns of behavior can be identified and what can be done about it.

Here are some statistics on dating Abuse

Teen dating abuse is a HUGE issue. It is a problem that touches the lives of teens from all walks of life-black and white, rich and poor, big-city and country.
These statistics are about real people. They are scary when you consider that anyone can experience dating abuse. People like you, your brother or sister, your friend, or your classmate. Become familiar with these facts so you can talk about the issue with other people and be ready to do something.

• About one in 11 teens reports being a victim of physical dating abuse each year.

• 1 in 3 teens report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, choked, or otherwise physically hurt by his or her partner.

• Nearly 80% of girls who have been physically abused in their dating relationships continue to date their abuser.

(This staticstics were obtained from the Department of Health and Human Services website http://www.chooserespect.org/)