Relationships

Going to Scarborough tomorrow I am reminded of the song made famous by Simon and Garfunkel (those of a certain generation will be familiar with it).  The song and the words go back to the Middle Ages. They speak of a conflict between lovers who ask that impossible tasks are completed by the other before they are willing to take the other back.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair.
Parsley,sage,rosemary and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true lover of mine.

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt.
Parsley, sage rosemary and thyme.
Without a seam or needle work.
Then she will be a true love of mine.

Tell her to wash it in yonder well.
Parsley, sage ,rosemary and thyme.
Where never springs water or rain never fell
And she will be a true love of mine.

Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn.
Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born
And she will be a true love of mine.

And so the song progresses with equally impossible tasks set this time by the girl for the man to fulfil before their love can be complimented.
It marks the difficulty in any relationship, the often impossible task of finding a course of action that finds acceptance by each party. The will is there but the actions seem to fall short.
Its another example of how we misunderstand our ability to communicate.
Our intentions are clear, in our own mind and we issue, usually through words, a set of ideas or proposals, in a language that is common to both and yet these words are received with completely different meaning by the other party. Emotion also either enhances or clouds the intention and the confusion increases the discontent of both parties. 
It should be easy, language is usually unambiguous a word or a sentence has only one meaning the only thing that has to be accepted is the genuineness of the person speaking but without trust or without a willingness to accept the words on their face value then the exercise is futile, worse it is destructive.