THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE
Sometimes we can all feel that things are changing too fast. It is indeed difficult at times to keep up with what appears to be a world in constant flux. So many people say to me ‘Wow! It’s November already – Where did that year go’? So many things we had planned to do and we never got round to it. When we look at others, as we are inclined to do, we believe they have it all ‘sorted’. They may have some things ‘sorted’, but not everything. We, like they, are doing our best in this ever changing world.
It does no harm as we come to the end of the year to take stock of our lives. You may like to write your own review of the last year. It is a good exercise to see what we did well and, maybe, to see what we could have done better. None of us are perfect and we all get things wrong, but we also get a lot right! We are not very good at giving ourselves a pat on the back. This is also true about our relationships with our partner and our children if we have any. The year goes so quickly we forget some of the great things that have happened. You might like to think about writing a ‘thank you’ card or letter to your loved ones that they did for you in the past year. These ‘little acts of kindness’ often go without a word of thanks and now is your chance to say how much they were appreciated. Please believe me your word of thanks will mean so much to the recipient.
In a world of change the one constant is the need for our love, care and support for each other. The opportunity to give (and receive) love, care and support is with us all the time. We have the choice to give and to receive. What holds us back is sometimes a subject explored in the counselling rooms at Relationships Ireland. Our decades of experience are a wonderful resource to call upon to help transform the lives of our clients. So many of us do not know how much we are loved and cherished, often because those with whom we interact are embarrassed to tell us! I encourage you all to tell those you live with how important and valuable they are and what they mean to you.
Many individuals and couples attend Relationships Ireland saying there has been a breakdown in communication. Often it is not a breakdown in communicating negative feelings but a breakdown and loss in communicating positive feelings. Our clients feel that loss very deeply. In the middle of this loss, or bereavement, the world keeps on turning and changing not recognising or acknowledging their pain – they feel alone, abandoned. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients from every strand of society. In a world that is changing our core values of equality and respect for all doesn’t and will not change.