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Relationships

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Recap

Throughout our lives we face many experiences, including good times and bad, easy and hard. It would be challenging to experience all of life’s highs and lows entirely on our own; we need others around us. People depend on the companionship found in relationships with family and friends during their lives. Being connected to others is important for our well-being, self-esteem and development. They help to bring meaning to our lives and help us to feel good about ourselves.

Sometimes friendships can change, arguments can arise and we can fall out with one another. At other times we can find ourselves feeling alone or struggling to make friends. These are very common experiences but can also be very painful. Another challenge we may face is where we find ourselves in unhealthy friendships/relationships that might make us feel unhappy or uncomfortable. Learning to manage all these situations is often helped when we talk things through with a trusted adult who can help us to manage changes, deal with loneliness or handle unhealthy situations.

Relationships offer support, fun, friendship, advice and guidance. Friendships ultimately improve our happiness because we need social interaction to thrive.

Experiments

Relationships are really important and it is good to make the effort to keep them and look after them. It can be especially important to do something about those relationships that we may have neglected or are not going so well. Keep it simple and maybe do something you don’t normally do.

  1. Give someone you love a hug every day (don’t forget to ask if they are okay with you hugging them).
  2. If you recently had an argument, see if you can find a way to sort it out.
  3. Celebrate the achievements of someone you know with a cake (or treat).
  4. Spend time with a close friend.
  5. If you recognise that you are in an unhealthy relationship commit to talking to a trusted adult about it.
  6. Enjoy the company of older members of your community and family (ask them to tell you something about their lives or show them something you are interested in).
  7. Offer support to someone going through a tough time.
  8. Play a board game or online game with someone.
  9. Tell your parents/guardians one thing you are going to be doing each day for a week before you leave the house and ask them the same.
  10. At the end of each day tell your parents/guardians one thing you did and ask them to do the same.
  11. Book a time in the week to hang out with a mate.
  12. Book a time in the week to hang out with your parents/guardians or siblings.
  13. Write a friend or family member a note or send them a card telling them what you like about them or to thank them.
  14. Spend some time with your family rather than staying in your room.
  15. Go for coffee with a friend or take some snacks and sit in a safe place and just hang out.
  16. Offer to show someone how to set up a social media page or share another skill you have.
  17. Offer to help someone this week.
  18. Seek to include someone you can see is on their own or left out.
  19. If you are feeling lonely take time to get some help and talk to someone.
  20. Make an active decision not to get involved with hurting others with unkind actions or words.
  21. Share a funny story or video with someone.
  22. List all the important people in your life and make contact with them in some way (maybe a text, a card, a note or a call).
  23. Arrange a day out with friends you have not seen for a while.
  24. Forgive someone.
  25. Practise kindness experiments from session four with friends and family.