Know It
Our program defines relationship as:
Live It
Enjoy the people you work with, the family you live with, the friends you spend time with. Get to now them, their likes and their dislikes. Ensure that each relationship is one where you give as much as receive. Recognize the positives they invite into your life. If there are negatives, take the time to try and rectify them. It is possible to live in solitude, but the joy and satisfaction life brings increases tenfold when you embrace all the good others have to offer.
Recognize when others need assistance. Sometimes they will be resourceful and ask for help, other times due to pride or various other factors they won’t. Be the bigger person and offer the helping hand. Offering help can be an imposition at times but the personal satisfaction you feel knowing you were of assistance is worth it. Working together is also another great way to get something accomplished. Whether is be with a person or person(s) in need or together with others to get a project done, collaborating can get something accomplished in an effective and efficient manner.
Helping an individual is a wonderful thing, helping a whole community of people is truly a selfless act. With busy schedules and limited time, when one volunteers it is truly a sacrifice. A sacrifice that is appreciated by not only the specific group of people it benefits but the entire community. The act of volunteering builds partnerships, pride, trust and confidence. It is an action that creates an environment of giving and in such an environment positive relationships are fostered.
Teach It
When it comes down to teaching this “R” helping others practice it seems to be one of the best strategies. At times people, kids to adults, forget that they are not the center of the world. Having someone take them through the steps on valuing others in their lives and getting along to serve a common purpose is sometimes all it takes to instill skills that will help them build relationships the rest of their lives. A Pop Warner football coach shares how he had some of his athletes practice some relationship skills to improve their performances on the field:
“We had a few athletes that tended to focus on themselves. They played as if they were the only ones on the field. I needed the kids to understand that even though it was important for each of them to play well individually, it was even more important for them to well as a team. They needed to start working together and communicating out on the field. I found a few “team building” activities. One called “Crossing the River” required the kids to work together to accomplish a common goal. If one person acted selfishly or chose not to cooperate, the whole team suffered. In the end the only way they were able to get across the “river” was by talking, coming up with a plan together and then each person following through so the whole group could succeed. They were very proud of themselves. When I explained that if they worked together like that on the field they might win more games, the kids got the connection. The fact is, winning isn’t that important, but as we’ve done more of these kinds of activities, seeing the kids really try to support each other for a common goal has been an amazing experience.” |
