just minishorts.

Sometimes I wonder where is the threshold of tolerance and pain one can afford to offer a partner when both are in a love-relationship.

A friend once said that people who are involved in relationships are generally nicer people to be with, because they're able to learn how to compromise, and give and take. That generally means that singlehood is also not a bad thing at all. It's important to learn how to appreciate singlehood because being single allows one, no, forces one self to learn how to cherish the most important person in the world, YOURSELF.

That's probably why singles who remain single for a long time just can't get used to being in relationships, said my friend. According to him, if you're alone for too long, you'll just grow to dread having to compromise to another person, compromise being a necessary ingredient in any relationship. The fact is, hardly any relationships are made up of completely compatible couples. There's always at least something that you'll find irritating about a person. A relationship works, when both sides of the relationship are able to give and take at a comfortable level.

So how far can you give? How far should you take? To what extent do you draw the line?

I'm just wondering.

… is yet another rip off the Mix Breakfast topic. Yes, yes, I listen to Mix FM every morning (how's that for online endorsement of an already popular radio show?). I used to like Lil' Kev and Fly Guy, but I suppose, people age, and after a while, I had to migrate from 92.9 to 94.5 so now I'm hooked on Richard, Shaz and Ika every morning. The topics usually don't disappoint, except unfortunately, I've got only less than 1/2 hour to amuse myself with the callers' responses.

So anyway, Ika and Natalie the guest asked the listeners this today:

'Will money help heal a broken heart?'

(Can you tell? I'm terribly interested in topics that involve boy-girl relationships, oh silly me!)

Every caller I heard (all three of them) said, 'No.' When your heart is broken, you can't heal the broken heart. A girl even said, 'It's never going to change, once your heart is broken you can't change ever… not ever going to be healed.'

Blah. I happen to think that money DOES help to heal a broken heart. Because I've been there, I've been through this. Money will help to provide all the medication you need to keep you busy, to keep you motivated to go out and meet more people, and after a while, you'll realise, money plays a very, very, important role in help changing the way you look so that you can move out of that rut you're stuck in since getting your heart broken by the last bastard who told you he loved you.

That's what I think lah. Cos I've had my share of broken hearts, once when I was still studying and poor, and the second time when I was already working and earning my own keep. And I'll say this, it's a hell of a difference. When you're living mostly off what your parents can afford you, there's only so much you can do to keep yourself busy. Because your parents pay for the bill, you can't get out, you're stuck in the curfews and requirements your parents have set for you. Apart from having to endure the immense pain of being left out alone, you still have to be the obedient kid so you can't very well splurge, nor can you spend the whole night out with friends, nor can you decide to throw and destroy things just to feel better. You're required to mend your bleeding heart by your parents' standards, and trust me, its NOT easy.

When you're independent, and you control the money you earn and own, it becomes different. You can choose to spend and overshoot your credit limit, who cares? Purchase-binging is awesome therapy when you've got bloodshot eyes and a tired chest. The last time I broke up I spent a bomb on books. And then after a while of splurging I got broke, and left with a pathetic figure in my bank account I had to do something in order to earn the money I lost. That's when I threw myself into the work and concentrated on getting money.

So of course, money speaks a lot about how you manage break-ups. Having a lot of money affords you the luxury of retail therapy, and you can choose to pamper yourself with spas and facials and other things to make yourself feel better. Even a trip overseas (I've seen friends going on month-long breaks just to mend a broken up, you think if you're poor you can do that?) If you had no money, you'd be motivated to work hard. You should be motivated anyway. And throwing your heart and soul into your work helps you take your mind off the pains of a bad break up.

That's what I think anyway.