Karen's Kolumn: Tips For Enhancing Relationships

All relationships can benefit from enhancement from time to time, as we sometimes tend to take people for granted – especially those closest to us. Following is a list of suggestions to consider as we traverse through our world of relationships.

♦ When you say “I love you’, mean it.

♦ Love deeply and passionately; you might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.

♦ Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

♦ Marry a person you love to talk to; as you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

♦ Look for and build up the positive aspects of your mate.

♦ Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

♦ Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

♦ Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have, or sleep all you want.

♦ Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

♦ When you say “I’m sorry”, look the person in the eye.

♦ In disagreements, fight fairly—no name calling.

♦ Don’t judge people by their relatives.

♦ Talk slowly but think quickly.

♦ When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

♦ Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

♦ When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

♦ Stress can be lessened when you can laugh at life’s little disasters. Don’t take life too seriously; it’s only a temporary situation!

Source: Beaver County Extension Newsline, February 2009