Eris: I loved your bird analogy! I’d like to practice that. I think we all know the bird will eventually fly away, so we appreciate its company and beauty *in the moment.* I think that’s the key! We stay present when the bird is there and appreciate it for what it is. We don’t think, “What’s going to happen when this bird leaves? What am I going to do with myself in its absence? Why can’t the bird stay all of the time?”

You could easily replace those statements with people when it comes to dating and relationships. So, stay in the moment with the person you’re with (to a reasonable extent… obviously be clear if your intention is to eventually find a relationship that may be suitable for long-term companionship).