Excursions.

In my International Relations class we were studying "heroes" of the Realist and Liberalist realms of IR theory. I found particularly interesting the section on how Nixon and Kissinger worked diligently to improve US/USSR relations during their term. I guess what I found interesting was how Nixon and Kissinger were quintessential "realists" in every political sense: calculating, Manichean, striving for a unipolar world in which America prevailed leaving everyone else to eat our superior, capitalist dust. Yet, they were being quintessential Liberals in deciding to reach out through use of dialogue and overarching global institutions for a more peaceful world. This is a seemingly random anecdote from an otherwise subpar class, but lest I forget my point - I think I always find it fascinating to watch people explore other versions of themselves. I'm always intrigued when people decide to challenge their traditional way of conducting themselves - it almost always is conducive to learning and profound personal growth.

(Leaving Nixon aside, who clearly had a ton to learn, thus undermining my argument, let us move forward and make some more relevant parallels.)

I think the best human relationships are those where you discover parts of yourself that you didn't know existed. Whether you like what you discover or loathe these newfound qualities, they are still fibers, good or bad, which compose the person you are. The more you uncover about yourself, the more learning opportunities are presented before your eyes to seize vigorously in hopes of improving your life. I've come to discover that there exist certain relationships where both partners can be so remarkably similar, so much so that talking to the other person can be like talking to yourself. This can be so useful because I've found, in my own life, that engaging in somewhat of a "mental dialogue" with myself is the best way to work out problems or extrapolate certain issues to their logical conclusions. A healthy relationship can be a portal through which to accomplish this every second of the day, consciously and subconsciously. I really think that the best relationships put you at such ease that you may not even notice yourself shifting from your traditional self into a more creative, thoughtful, more observant version of you until the mutual benefits are reaped. I suppose this idea of transformation truly enamors me. I always knew that people had the potential to change for the worse. It always scared me. It's nice to remember that people can also change for the better, too.