Article February 10, 2003 ISSUE

What I'm learning about companionship

BY Lois Rae Carlson

SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT, NEXT TO NEW YEAR'S EVE, Valentine's Day is the most difficult holiday for single people. Well, I haven't needed to wait for those holidays to feel sorry for myself. It has been all too easy to cry tears of anguish about companionship or the lack of it.

But I'm tired of those useless tears. Some of the lessons I've learned have helped me keep my peace and expectancy, as well as my sense of humor—and those three qualities are high on my list of open secrets for good relationships.