All human relationship refers to association, connection, interaction and bond between two or more individuals. Relationships may turn sour unless handled with care, commitment and tolerance. In this context, Orissa POST interacts with a few pragmatic and socially active women to elicit what they consider appropriate to maintain a healthy relationship in a social or family circle.
“There are several adjustments to make and a lot of give-and-take needed to strengthen a family relationship. There will be agreements and disagreements with your life partners, children and in-laws. Yet, it is important to maintain communion properly since it is something I’ve always believed in,” asserts Kalpasa Ankita Shaw, a former Miss Balasore and a social activist. Ankita has received several awards, thanks to her hard work towards the cause of orphans and the downtrodden.
“Communication is very important in a relationship. I am not one of those who says, okay shut it for today and don’t take it out tomorrow. If a matter needs to be resolved tomorrow, then it should. Of course, yes, if you can close the chapter today, great! But it doesn’t need a rule book at all. Be open-minded about how you plan to share your life with your partner. It also means respecting and being sensitive to your partner,” says Kalpasa.
“Relationships have various dimensions. As women need to be caring and sharing. Remember, they are not meant for experiments and thrills. It’s easy for a committed one but difficult for a selfish one,” says Priyanka Mishra, an insurance professional from Bhubaneswar.
“Nowadays lifestyle and relationships keep changing with time. It is okay for certain relationships with friends or former colleagues, but when you are in a committed relationship in the role of a parent, spouse or child, the benchmark is quite high. Relationships survive with independence. Even a child needs his or her own space. Even parents have their own space when the children are at the Middle English school level. The second most important factor in a relationship is empathy towards your spouse. Thirdly, to build a strong relationship you need to be honest. With times changing, we are becoming more digitised, sharing our thoughts and emotions on social media platform when there is likelihood of falling into emotional traps. So, do avoid taking such risks,” says Priyanka.
Pushpita Sahu who runs a boutique in Bolangir says, “In keeping a relationship intact, what we need most is communication. Most people know that communication is a vital part of retaining or straining a relationship. Both partners, in their own ways, have trouble actually opening up and sorting out their problems. So, it’s better to discuss the problem and find out the best way to a healthy relationship.”
“In a prolonged relationship, you become familiar with each other and consequently it may breed contempt. So, in order to avoid this situation, you need to constantly try new activities with your partner. Do something occasionally ridiculous together. This creates some excitement and keeps the relationship alive. And it’s always advisable to focus on what is going on well in the relationship rather than focusing on the negative,” Pushpita reveals.
Archita Panigrahi, a teacher from Bargarh, feels trust is the main element to keep a relationship busy and going. She says, “A married woman needs to take extra care to keep the relationship intact. Of course, her first priority is her hubby. Once she succeeds in doing so, more or less all her in-laws will maintain cordial relationship with her. And even if you have difficulties in maintaining proper relationship with your in-laws you would get the needed support from your partner. Trust is another basic trait that helps keep your relationship with your husband alive. Whether he is present physically with you or not, you shouldn’t do anything that may hurt his sentiment. This is the first and final rule,” adds Archita.
Himanshu Guru, OP