Chained Up or Chained Down

We run through life and bump into others who at times we decide to chain to ourselves, and time only tells whether we have chained ourselves to an anvil which pulls us to the bottom of the ocean, or to a balloon which lifts us into the sky.  Life's relationships, our friends,and associates our not only enrich or add value to our lives, but become a defining factor in our lives.  I once read a study in which they said that 80 % of relationships which are formed never change the base principles on which they are formed.  This means that if you met  a friend drinking in a pub one night, your relationship will more than likely be grounded on drinking and that will be a big portion of what is done in your relationship. Friends, spouses, lovers, family, and each of our relationships are based off of something and it is "that" something which comes to define our relationship. This is why when you go back to say a high school reunion or meet on old friend you will find yourself reverting to thinking and acting around your old classmates/friends the same ways you did back when you knew them.  This as in many other things in life is a double edge sword.
Each of us I am sure have friends or loved ones who have relationships with partners that we just don't understand appeal "why would they would ever stay together with them?"  These friends/loved ones make excuses for seemingly inexcusable behavior in their partners.  These people (as being chained to a anvil) will do nothing but pull the person whom they are chained to down, and for whatever reason they can't see it or over look it.  If we each think logically about our relationships with others we can tell which ones are duds and which pull us down.  Often times individuals will know they are in a bad situation and instead of chewing their paw off to get out of the trap it is caught in, they try to incorporate their lives around it.
One should think of each relationship that they form as the beginning of the journey, and be mindful of how the person they have chained themselves to will affect that journey.  Smashing Pumpkins music video "Tonight Tonight" is a great depiction of this.  In the beginning we see a freshly married couple heading in a journey in a Zeppelin to the Moon.  The music video is great because it illustrates how much help having a positive individual chained to you can be, and all the turbulent and green alien filled times they can help you through.  Would the person your chained too be one which as in the video you could count on the help you break through the rope tied around you both.  In the study which I mentioned before they also talked of how couples which are based off of drug use seemingly never, and I mean never are able to have both partners get off and stay off of drugs.  It takes a lot to break that rope especially as a couple because you both must be exerting yourselves, and in these relationships on often gives up and stops trying which leads the other to either cut off the relationship with the other or remain bond with their partner in addiction.
In short every relationship is in a Zeppelin headed somewhere when it is started, one would be wise to think logically where it is headed, and where that is a place they want to go.