Close Relationships-Keeping In Touch With Loved Ones

Close relationships are very important in life. They can help keep you feeling loved and have confidence in yourself. Having the support of your loved ones is probably one of the most important factors in your life. It may be easier when everyone is living at home but there are still ways to remain close when everyone moves out on their own.

The first and best way is to keep in touch as best you can. These days with the social networks, email and texting, keeping in touch is a whole lot easier than it ever used to be. I have a sibling that lives in Arizona and the social networks is exactly how we keep in touch. Being able to post pictures of each other’s family to keep tabs on how everyone is growing is a big plus. We can watch each other’s children grow up and even though we still miss stuff we do not feel so detached.

We decided to keep close relationships by contributing some of our favorite photos that we have taken throughout the year and sending them to each other in alternate years to put together a new photo album each year. That way when the holidays come around everyone can enjoy the new album along with the older editions.

Scrapbooking is huge with us, too. Each child has his or her own scrap book for different things that have occurred in our lives or our children’s lives. Then, just like the photo albums we bring them along to holiday or other family gatherings for everyone to enjoy.

Now, of course, not every relationship can be all sunshine and roses all the time. To keep our relationships close we know how to handle those times when someone has a problem and is not realizing that they are snapping at everyone that gets in their way.

The best way to handle this type of problem is to really show that you care and ask what the problem is and offer to help any way you can. This shows the family member that you are concerned and willing to help if needed. When people come outside themselves and put themselves out there to help a loved one this helps the relationship stay close.

Confidence and self-assurance is also key to healthy relationships with other people. If you know who you are and are comfortable in your own skin then other relationships come easy, especially if the other person in the relationship is confident and self-assured. too.

Learn to listen to what others are saying. If you listen closely then you will hear and be able to decipher the signals they are sending out. You will be able to pick up on the nuances and subtleties of their speech and body language to discern their meanings.

Commit yourself to a daily ritual of learning to reflect upon yourself and your feelings. This may take some time to accomplish but do not give up. The better you get at it then you will be able to do the same with all your other close relationships.

Traci wanted to get her guy back.  She wasn’t in a good position to do so however.  She had accused her ex, Cory, of flirting with her best friend.  Traci knew that Cory was just being friendly, but she was having a bad day and she took it out on Cory.

Now Traci is contrite and she wants to get her guy back.  Unfortunately, the guy doesn’t want to be gotten back.  He wants nothing further to do with Traci.  What’s a girl to do?

First of all, Traci needs to apologize.  This needs to be a sincere apology.  If he doesn’t want to listen to her, she should write a note.

There are three components to a genuine apology.  First of all, there is a recognition that what she did was wrong.  Then, there is an introspection as to why she did it.  Finally, there is a commitment to not do it again.

For instance, Traci needs to say “Brian, I was wrong to accuse you of flirting with Sandy.  I was feeling insecure for a number of reasons that had nothing to do with you and I snapped.  I realize that I hurt you badly and I’m sorry.  In the future, I will be careful not to lash out at you when I’m feeling crummy about myself.”

Next, she needs to sit back and allow Brian to process what she’s said.  This may just take a few minutes or it could take days.  If he’s not initially receptive, she should not contact him until he contacts her.  That means that she shouldn’t call, email, or text him.  She shouldn’t engage him on social networks.  She shouldn’t send him gifts or letters.

She should also avoid having friends intercede for her.  Having a friend contact Brian would be the same thing as Traci contacting him herself and there is always the possibility that the friend could (deliberately or not) miscommunicate the message.

Instead, Traci should wait for Brian to contact her.  He will, eventually, if only to get his stuff that she has back.  This is Traci’s opportunity to strike.

She should keep things light.  She shouldn’t go overboard and tell him how much she’s missed him or how sorry she is about the situation.

Instead, she should bring up some of the positive experiences they’ve shared.  If that goes over well, she can talk about the little things that she’s missed such as his smile or the way he always holds the umbrella when it rains.  Then, she should suggest they meet for a not-date date such as a short get together at a coffee shop.

If he is agreeable to coffee, they can discuss more weighty matters.  She can apologize again at that point and recommit to not making the same error again.  At that point, she can say that she misses having him in her life and would like to get back together.

Traci has let Brian blow off any steam he had about the incident.  She has also given him both time and reasons to want her back.  At that point, she doesn’t have to do much work to get her guy back.