Life is about relationship. Relationship is the core of our being and existence. Without relationship, life will be dull and uninteresting. Therefore we need to initiate, develop and sustain our relationships so as to be more open to ourselves and our environment, and be closer to our very being. Other people in our life help us to discover the hidden treasure in us. There is no one in the world without the power to influence others; and there is no one who has it all. We all therefore need each other. Relationship does not just come to be, even though man by nature is gregarious, and a relational being, relationship demands effective communication and this communication helps and opens us up to relationship insight. There is a relationship between communication and relationship. Communication affects growth in relationship. When the skills of communication are well used, in any relationship, such relationship would grow and develop. On the other hand, the growth of a relationship affects communication behavior. Friends are not just gathered around oneself, but friendship is formed to enhance solid skills and to develop one’s personality. There is a need for intimacy in a close and affectionate friendship. Intimacy is the ability to walk into the life of another, and after you’ve gone the person still keeps on remembering you because you have left footprint. Intimacy involves sharing and disclosing personal information. You are expected to remove all your masks and allow others to know your real self. Some of us hide family background and tell lies to gain favour; we do so because we feel that, if people really knew us they would not love us. That is not true. For relationship to be successful, we need to be open and sincere to each other. Sometimes, we live among people yet, we find it difficult to relate, to trust and to accept others with their inadequacies; and do not see in them equality and companionship. This can be as result of your concept of life, or how you were brought up or how the environment has manipulated you. This can make you lonely even though you are in the midst of others. Although loneliness is not cured by contact with people but coming into contact with oneself; and knowing oneself adequately, is affected with the companionship and relationship you keep. We all want to be loved and be loved in return. We have those we call friends, but how have we sustain those relationships? Have we nurtured it enough with the right ingredient for it to stay strong and undying? Relationships may not necessarily be permanent. Some develop and grow if we nurture it, while others fall apart if we do not. Therefore, we need to relate with people, make friends and sustain those friendships.
