Marisa DeMarco

Simple gestures are the ones that speak volumes and show thought and care.

Does he/she make an effort to hold your hand, put his/her arm around you, and either take or follow the lead with ease or resistance? Is there playful and/or gentle contact between you both or there is more reserve?

We shift, grow, change, and evolve at our own pace whether prompted by external forces, internal sensations, or a combination of both.

Sometimes our walls are so thick that it’s nearly impossible for us to escape ourselves and allow others to enter.

Living in the past of broken dreams, failures, mistakes, what ifs, would have, should have, and could have, along with feelings of guilt and shame whether inflicted by others or self-imposed is not doing you or anyone else connected to you justice.

“Two girls, two dates, same night, and same movie.”

Love is unique to the beholder in all aspects of expression, feeling, and beliefs.

During the month of January, I agonized over some of the most difficult matters of the heart while contending with work and immigration issues since moving to Italy only months prior.

There are some of us who grow up in our local towns and may not even venture out more than 50 miles away to live, work, and even travel beyond what has always been known.

Interpersonal relationships are a substantial and important part of life.

If someone expresses and shares a pure moment of happiness, many times it’s often questioned or perhaps sabotaged by another’s sadness and jealously.

When fear is present, it tends to take hold in sometimes skewed, irrational, or anxious manifestations.

Healthy selfishness is a concept that many of us grapple with and perhaps truly don’t grasp what it exactly means.

Yesterday while sitting in the provincial garden of the quintessential Italian “nonna” (grandmother), she took my hand and looked me square in the eyes.

The “love of our life” is the one that makes us feel the most, but he/she will never be permanent.

Fears about failure.

Dating and relationships are chock-full of lessons, experiences, intimacy, and interpersonal exchanges.

There is a marked difference between being an alpha male or female in contrast with being a beta.