The world is full of relationships. Whether you like it or not, you’re somehow related to someone by blood, friendship or some other kind of circumstance. So while it can be difficult for people to have no one on earth, it still happens that we feel alone most of the people time.
I saw a really disturbing story of Facebook last week about a lady who left her desk in the bank to go to the restroom and was later found dead with an insecticide bottle and a suicide note. Being alone happens a lot, and it should not be that way.
In Africa, we love community. While growing up, my mom always had several meetings and I found it hard to understand how she always finds the time to meet with these people. One intriguing part of these groups is that whenever one member was sick, they took turns in caring for the person if the family is unable to do so. There was a time someone was so sick and could not even clean her house for weeks, they all went there, cleaned, cooked and spent time with her.
These stories just show that you can get people that care. No matter how terrible you think you are, there are people that care and it’s your responsibility to find them. You may depend on them someday. It is an investment though, so treat every relationship as one. That’s why a parent who cares for a child will be sure to get a caring child in their old age too. Things don’t just happen.
I have always been the one to forget birthdays and checking up on loved ones. But I am learning to nurture relationships because I have seen how valuable they can be; not just to me. That’s the other part of the coin. You need to be available and committed. It’s a two way thing, I usually get irritated and tired when I am always giving and never getting anything in return in a relationship. Now I don’t mean material things alone, but be ready to invest something in your relationships. It could be a phone call, a text, a thoughtful act like clearing a neighbor’s driveway.
The pros of relationships outweighs the cons, and in my opinion, no one should do life alone. So if you have families that you are now estranged with, or friends you have not been in contact with, try to reach out. Love is a beautiful thing and you can experience it in every relationship. The introvert in me has given me many reasons why I shouldn’t reach out to past relationships, but I do not care. I am doing it, but whether or not it feels awkward. I challenge you too to reach out and fix your broken relationships.
Thanks For reading
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