How to Nurture Your Relationships

Nuture-Relationships-John-Lennon Tips for Living a Healthy, Happy & Terrific Life!

It’s not time to fall back on your friendships! Are you nurturing the relationships that are important to you?

The fall season is here and with that comes an extra hour of morning light and darker days that are approaching sooner. Just because it is the official season to “fall back” and the days seem shorter doesn’t mean we should loose site of our priorities and what really matters in life. This is different for each person. Relationships with others, especially friends and family, is something I think we would all agree comes to the top of the list.

Are you nurturing the relationships that are important to you?

I recently had the honor of hosting a birthday party for my dear friend’s mother, Maryanne O’Connor. She and her daughter Erin have an admirable relationship, one that most would view as positive, supportive, uplifting, loving and encouraging. It is easy to spot the deep love and connection between this mother and daughter and wonder how it is that each can say “she is my best friend”. Relationships take work and are not always easy. The closer the person the harder it is sometimes to get along, understand and stay connected. Mother-daughter relationships go through phases and loving unselfishly is not always an easy thing to do. There is no influence so powerful than that of a mother. While there are no perfect mother-daughter relationships, achieving a lifelong bond of friendship is something worth striving for.

Long-term friendships also go through stages of ups and downs, good times and not so good times. The friends that are there for you through thick and thin, for better or worse, are worth treasuring forever. That doesn’t mean it will always be easy or conflict won’t be present. Those we are closest often bear the brunt of our frustrations and hardships. Don’t “fall back” on nurturing these relationships.

The following suggestions will help develop and nurture your relationships:

SHOW SUPPORT

Be supportive and encouraging even when you don’t agree. This is not always easy to do! We don’t always agree with the choices our closest family members and friends make, however, we can still be positive and supportive.

MAKE TIME

Make time for those who are most important to you. Don’t let your busy schedule interfere with relationships, try to get together even if it is just for a quick cup of coffee.

APOLOGIZE

When you do find yourself getting into a disagreement or “fight”, be the first to say “sorry” or apologize.

PRIORITIZE

Make your relationships a top priority. There is nothing more important!

BE AVAILABLE

Be present during the good times and bad! Don’t be accused of being a fair weather friend. Most importantly don’t “fall back” by being “unavailable” and too busy.

Wishing you all a happy and terrific fall season!!

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