Wordsley, Stourbridge, England: 8 degrees, cold and rainy.
It is the first working day since arriving in England.
I wanted to go for a walk in the morning, but it was raining. The truth is that it has been raining all day- not heavy rain, just a drizzle, which has been just enough to keep me from going out.
I wanted to get up early like I did in Rio, but I think it will take some time to get into that rhythm here in England. I was up at 8:00, did a few simple exercises at home, had a tea and a wash, and started setting up a simple makeshift workstation downstairs in the front living room.
My mother’s house has two living rooms separated by a kitchen in the middle. The front living room is simpler and is the original one from the house. The new kitchen and the second living room at the back are extensions that my late stepfather, Roger, built with his own hands to please my mother.
He would work from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at his everyday work, where he was a lathe-turner, then come home and work from 6:00 p.m. until sometimes midnight. For six months or more, he would build and graft an extension onto the back of his house for my mother.
I remember visiting my mother one summer; I was passing through for a couple of days after having business in London. When all the meetings were over, I went up the country to visit the family in Wordsley. The extension was nearly finished, and Roger was happy to see me; we always had a good relationship.
I admire him and have always regarded him as a simple but very good person and a good man. He invited me out for a beer at his local pub, where he told me he felt a bit sad because my mother was unhappy with the extension, commenting that it was not as large as her old house.
He asked me for my opinion because he didn’t know what to do to please my mother anymore. I told him that if my mother is not happy and content and does not appreciate what he was doing, the extra hours after work, time, money, energy, etc, then leave her, or tell her that it is the best he could do. He can’t do anymore and if it is not good enough for her, for her to go!
The house extension was and is truly beautiful to this day. Sadly, Roger died from cancer shortly after finishing the extension, over 20 years ago, but my mother uses every day what he built with his love and respect for her.
It is a very cosy and well-built place, and I hope that my mother now appreciates more the force and effort that Roger put into trying to please her. I know that we don’t have a crystal ball, but we must be able to see and appreciate the efforts of those who love us and help calm, support, and please us in genuinely genuine and sincere ways.
As a man, I have often observed a lack of appreciation from girlfriends and wives towards their partners. There appears to be a tendency only to acknowledge what is convenient to mention while overlooking important contributions. In defence of women, I recognise that many men also fail to recognise the sacrifices their girlfriends or wives make to maintain a healthy relationship, as well as the effort and energy invested in building their life together.
What is truly essential for a man is to feel appreciated. It’s not just about money, beauty, or her cooking—though those factors are valid and can enhance a relationship. When a man feels unappreciated, he can become lost. Just like anything, there are limits to what one can tolerate.
It can be argued that appreciation is essential for both partners in a relationship. However, I believe that if a man feels unappreciated, he may be tempted to stray from the right path, which could leave a woman wondering why he acted that way.
Maintaining a relationship has become increasingly challenging in recent times. Nevertheless, if a woman is perceptive enough to recognise when her man is making efforts to please her or fulfil her wishes, he is likely to remain loyal and by her side forever.
After setting up my little workstation on the wooden dining table in the front living room, I gave my first class to Isabel at 10 a.m. here in England, which is 7:00 a.m. in Rio. Everything else was normal; nothing changed regarding the class, its mechanics, or any of the other classes.
My mother made us salmon salad for lunch and sandwiches for dinner, both of which were very nice.
In bed by 9:30 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
