There are times that two people, no matter how close, will not agree on certain issues or concerns. Where they don’t see each other eye-to-eye and oftentimes avoid the subject matter altogether than to go through the process of arguing or debating about it.

But I guess, that is also the beauty of friendship. When people can accept each other and agree to disagree on matters where they have a totally different perspective.

I guess life is too short to let differences affect friendships. Best to let the people we care for be free, support, and help achieve their fullest potential.

It is 2009.

People are gearing for a lot of plans as to what the year will bring. Skepticism and Positivism mix in the air as the Chinese fire crackers blaze in the sky and snare the eardrums.

Bad vibes as they say go away. This may be true or not, people take the chance. It has become a tradition anyway. Nothing is wrong about it.

I simply don’t care.

Hear this one! The political upheavals happening among the crooks over the years make them growl as if they can make a big kill again for this year and for the most awaited – Election 2010. Isn’t that very true?

Economy has already gone berserk in the West that its effect has been predicted to be felt in the East sooner or later. Macau, the merry land of casino moguls is now laying off it is workforce. Its immunity no longer holds true.

All these instances remind me of the Jamaican music demigod, Bob Marley who kept on chanting – “Don’t worry about a thing, coz’ everything going be alright.” Err…Will his message still holds true as the economic nose dive in the West is closing in our shores?

The “pobres” may be deemed oblivious about the impending danger that can sweep every major tax generating companies in the land but I do believe they feel the need to tighten further their belts to go through life each day. Will be they more resilient to what is about to come? The arithmetic is simple. Three meals a day minus one is enough to comprehend that something is not right.

Something is very wrong.

Correct me if I am wrong, I think it is the “lack of bread to eat” that jolted the famous French Revolution.

As I try to tinker deeper the imbalance has already gone so bad. The disparity between the have’s and have not’s is unbelievably big enough already that the so-called middle class no longer exists.

The real question is, what am I doing to at least make a difference to the growing unevenness all round?

Sit-back and watch? Make more money online? Join a Busby SEO Test contest again? Or at least move my butt and do something worthwhile for mankind?

What?

Based from past SEO competition experience, there is a certain level of stress that one reaches during the climax or last few days of the activity. And in collaborative endeavors, such as the Busby SEO Test, there is also transition of returning the site back to its normal state. Players reverting to what they used to do, let go, and move on. Others will pursue their partnership further.

Doing the transition is like carrying out a lovers break-up. It’s funny as I got asked how to go about it and decided to use the Busby SEO Test as an analogy to make it less stressful (even hilarious as it reflects how cruel a brain can get once it is the one in charge). Activities can include:

1. Pull yourself back together
If you have given everything (maybe almost), the keyword Busby SEO Test (counterpart would be any belongings) is already attached to you. It is like a perfume scent that lingers. Removing them one by one, including deep links, is deliberately accepting that you have to let go and move on. I think it is actually a good heart-hardening wall-building exercise.

2. Get busy
Start a project and get involved. Go out, catch up with friends, and accept those meet-up requests that you have been declining. Leave no time or room for reminiscing on how good, bad, or what could have possibly turn out in the Busby SEO Test (counterpart – your relationship). Best to put that energy into more productive use. This strongly applies if the ending did not initiate from you.

Being occupied also allows you to see the other in a different light.

3. Be happy
Simply because your happiness should not be anchored on how life or the people around you treats, cares, and loves you. It should be based on how you take care yourself and support others in reaching their dreams without expecting anything in return. In love relationships, give it unconditionally because you want to.

In the case of the Busby SEO Test, the process and learnings about the search engine, how it loves or hates you back, is already more than a rewarding experience on its own.

I mentioned earlier that our Busby SEO Test site got a lot of visitors from  Facebook friends as a result of our efforts to promote this site.

Another community that has been very kind to our Busby SEO Test entry is Plurk where a good share of referral visitors comes from that site. Also, my peer’s shout out for Digg and StumbleUpon vote also gets support from great folks there. Through it, we also found out which articles are most popular and here they are:

• Scorpio Predictions for 2008-2009 (Busby SEO Test)
• Busby SEO Test Home
• Capricorn Predictions for 2008-2009 (Busby SEO Test)
• 10 Ways to Say I Love You (Busby SEO Test)
• 20 Secrets of Great Relationships (Busby SEO Test)
  
• Cancer Predictions for 2008-2009 (Busby SEO Test)
• Virgo Predictions for 2008-2009 (Busby SEO Test)
• Cell Phone Users & Abusers (Busby SEO Test)
• Sagittarius Predictions for 2008-2009 (Busby SEO Test)

Many thanks Plurk friends!

Note: Try to Google Busby SEO Test.

All conceivable SEO methods are now finding their way for this Busby SEO Test contest.  I guess the white hat SEOs have already exhausted their methods and that is the funny part of it because  they are now banking on the BH ways. Huhum..huhumm.. woot!

Anyways, you see this Busby SEO Test contest is certainly one the best learning laboratories one can ever get because it really makes you think further on how to outwit and outsmart your competitors as well as the Google bots.

For me, I don’t know. Maybe this post will work some magic. We’ll see.

Anyways, look at my two kids. They are growing so fast… OMG!

- Busby SEO Test of Gary Viray.

“When do you get to that point where enough is enough?” For some Busby SEO Test readers and participants, some may say, “when it is obvious that despite all efforts, it is really impossible to achieve the desired results.”

However, for the hopeless romantic, in love, ideally, “never” is the answer. Treat the search engine like a lover that needs to be convinced and capture its attention. Make it love you to the point that you become number one.

In real life, long term love is equivalent to hard working commitment. If relationships are no longer working out, when visibility of a “growing old together” future is cloudy, still, the hopeless romantic will tell you to “never give up”.

Or maybe, that movie collection – The Mexican, should be thrown out of the window.

Valentine’s Day is just nearly a month away and this is the time that Busby SEO Test readers start thinking about love and relationships they have or don’t have yet.

I got the chance to watch an old television series, The OC, and there was a part there when Marissa told Ryan the three romantic words, “I Love You”. He got suprised and could only say, “Thank you”. And he kept asking himself, why is it hard to say “I Love You”.

When I think about it, there are many reasons why it is hard to say I Love You. Some of them includes:

• Uncertainty on the feelings you have.
  We are not sure if we are really that in love.
• Fear.
  Afraid that the person you are dating or have special relationship with only has “like” feelings and would rather wait for it to be said first. The problem is, you may have already convinced yourself of that and once the words get said, you don’t know how to respond.
• Rejection.
  You would rather not admit it for fear that you won’t be told “I Love You” back.
• Not allowed to say it.
  Perhaps you are already committed to someone else and saying the three words may open a pandora’s box. It is something that maybe better left un-said and simply be cherished on your own.

I’m sure there are more reasons why it is hard to say I love you. Share what you think.

Related post:

• 9 ways to stay in love for life
• What is love anyway?
• 10 ways to say I love you
• 20 secrets of great relationships

If love relationships matter to Busby SEO Test readers, then effort must be taken to ensure that they are cared for. This whether you are starting a new one or strengthening an existing relationship.

Dating doctor David D. Coleman shares that there are nine ways to stay in love for life in his book “Making Relationships Matter“. This includes:

1. Be courageous.

• Be the one who breaks the ice when you met someone that interest you.
• Discuss important topics or issues whenever tension exists.
• Admit mistakes while humbly acknowledging your talents.
• Control desire for physical intimacy when inappropriate, unwanted, would harm a relationship, or place the person in a compromising situation.
• Appropriately close remaining active relationships that inhibits you from moving forward.

2. Be valuable
The value of a relationship can be measured by the decision you make when no one is watching or listening to you (character); your willingness to stick to a plan of action (conviction); able to repeat an action that proves your love without a loss of quality (consistency); the emphathy and care you show for others on a regular basis (concern).

3. Be respectful
Work to become the right person to attract the right person.

4. Be forgiving
Refrain from keeping track of mistakes. Learn to forgive and move on.

5. Be passionate
Passion is present when you would rather be with someone more than anyone else in the world.

6. Be committed
Committing to the right person, hobby, career, or belief requires investment of energy and time. Try to be sure that the ones we find most compelling in life have the capabilities of offering the same in return.

7. Be spiritual
Faith is a choice made with conviction. Find time, place, and way to reflect and become more connected to your spirituality everyday.

8. Be trustworthy
Enter a timeless contract with yourself. To live life full of character, integrity, and truth.

9. Be healthy
Care for each other physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Related topics:

• What is love anyway?
• 10 Ways to Say I Love You
• 20 Secrets of Great Relationships

I’m sure most of my Busby SEO Test friends have fallen or is in (or out of) love at this point. Surprisingly, not understanding how “love” works can put any of us into chaos. That is why Andrew G. Marshall’s book, “I Love You, but I’m Not IN Love with You: Seven Steps to Saving Your Relationship” is an interesting one to read. The author explains that love can be classified into three types. They are:

• LIMERENCE
  A term coined by experimental pyschologist Dorothy Tennov. This comes when a spark of interest is returned and becomes a thunderbolt. In another view, this can also sneak up and in retrospect the moment is recognized as something very special – like a realization or you see someone in a different light.

  It is possible for the object of desire to remain a complete stranger or unaware of our feelings. It can be a borderline crazy obsession or love behavior. It is a curse as much as it is a pleasure. Love is given no matter how bad or good the other behaves. That is how strong the attraction is.

  However, it is also normal for it to wear off as we move on to the next affair hoping the “buzz” will last forever. A limerence may last from 6 months to 3 years.  So don’t feel bad if the feeling just dies. It is like talking about loving but not being in love at all. Lines like “true love conquers all” and “I’ll love you no matter what” are built on poet’s experience of limerence.

• LOVING ATTACHMENT (after LIMERENCE)
  Marshall says that this is equally beautiful as limerence although is more practical, tackles life complexities, and practical demands of being together. However, love can deteriorate once parties take each other for granted. This includes lack of physical intimacy and preventing each other from being different enough.

  However, if reciprocity is consistent, it can last forever.

• AFFECTIONATE REGARD
  If loving attachment has been neglected and couples have detached, their “love” turns into affectionate regard. This is the same feeling we have for our parents, children, siblings, and best friends. It makes us care for someone, wanting the best for them, but their destiny no longer intertwines with us. It is like no matter how bad our children treat us or friends/lovers disappoint us, our “love” (affectionate regard) for them endures.

  This is where the love is when someone says the line, “I love you but I’m not in love with you”.

Marshall believes that any relationship can be saved and has a seven step process for it that includes:

• Understanding the stages of a relationship
• Using arguments to improve a relationship
• Speak the same language of love
• Boosting intimacy
• Taking responsibility
• Giving
• Learning

It is a great read and I encourage you to check it out.

Related:

• 10 Ways to Say I Love You
• 20 Secrets of Great Relationships

Love is definitely a lot more than the words “I love you”. I’m sure my Busby SEO Test friends will agree with me on this. It can and should be expressed in many ways to our life partners, parents, children, and other loved ones. The I Love You Book by Cynthia MacGregor and Vic Bobb detailed more than 500 ways to show the ones you love that you care. Here are some of the ideas that I liked from the book.

1. Come up with a list “Top Ten Reasons Why I Love You”.
You can cite more as a bonus. Another alternative will be “Top Ten Reasons Why I’ll Marry You All Over Again”.

2. Buy magazines or books that are a subject interest to your partner.
Especially when they are sick or down.

3. Make a CD collection.
Put your theme song and others that define you as a couple.

4. Post a message declaring your love on a blog or online forum.

5. Serenade.
Sing a love song to your loved one.

6. Remember the first date.
Celebrate your first date anniversary.

7. Write a poem or song.
Dedicated to your beloved.

8. Buy a movie.
The one that your partner always like or wanting to watch.

9. Star gazing
Go out and look at the stars together.

10. Read the same book and talk about it.

Feel free to add more and share your I love you ideas.

Related:

• 20 Secrets of Great Relationships