Autumn is a Great Time for Strengthening
Your Relationships
Fall is rolling in and summer is fading out. Cooler nights, crisp mornings, and sun-shiny days, make fall in Missouri wonderful.
Be sure to save some time for a bonfire, a hayride, and a pumpkin patch with your friends and family. Don't forget those thrilling corn mazes, either!
Everything is more fun with friends or family.
Relationships are at the center of most things in our lives, this is why "relationships" are one of the three core values we hold close at Restoring Hope.
Relationships are important at every age and in every area of our lives. When we are babies, the only relationship we understand is mom and dad and how food arrives. As we progress, we develop relationships with teachers, neighbors, siblings, and strengthen the ones created with our parents. Usually we cruise right along, learning relationship behavior at home, school, church, or wherever we spend time. Relationships dominate home life, too, so it is very important to get this part right.
Sometimes, we pick up bad habits from things we see at home or at school. We may get stuck in a bad spot trying to deal with people. Or, sometimes we just don't get along with someone and cannot figure out why.
While it is easy to blame others, it is how we react, or respond, that sets the tone. We should take into consideration that the other person may be having a bad day, before we lay into them
(mentally or otherwise) with comments that are better left unsaid. Good communication can help here, but also, it may be necessary to give a person some space, if you see they are upset. Here are some tips on communicating with others:
- Treat others with respect
- Speak intentionally to one another about thoughts and feelings
- Listen carefully to others
- Do not criticize others, instead praise others
- Celebrate others' accomplishments and successes
With practice, the above items become second nature, and getting along in life suddenly becomes much easier. We hope you cherish and nurture the relationships in your daily life.