48) Relationships

What are relationships? Interacting and/or communicating with people.

I have many different types of relationships, such as brother to sister (Photo shown above. 3 year old myself with 6 year old sister), son to father, son to mother, best friend to best friend, coach to player, grandson to grandpa, and so on.

As of now, I have written blog posts about relationships. Here is the list shown below.

Relationships (in chronological order from top to bottom):

• ​My Relationship with Grandpa
• Happy Birthday, Sister
• Ungrateful People
• My Good Friend was Interrogated
• Disneyland on a Saturday (with close friend & his family)
• Connect
• When I Helped "That Somebody" Out...
• Universal Studios Hollywood on a Sunday (with close friend and his family)
• In the Heat of the Moment
• I Was Touched
• I Feel Special

Relationships are never perfect. (I believe there is no such thing as a perfect relationship.) Eventually, there will be arguments.

How can you overcome arguments? Forgive and forget (the weaker and easier way out), or by communication (hearing both sides of the story then trying to resolve it). Importantly, relationships grow stronger by communication.

The person will never realize what he or she has done wrong, or even myself. Nothing will change if you just forgive and forget. Then again, I can reach out, but it depends on the person if he or she is willing to talk about the argument. (It is what it is. That is how it is.)

For instance, some friends only want to have fun, other than have deep talks. (Having deep conversations is awkward to them.) Some friends are afraid to talk upfront with you. Instead, they talk behind your back (gossip). (There must be honesty.) Some friends would do anything for their crush, and ignore you. (There must be loyalty.) Some friends are controlling and commanding. (There must be a balance in friendship.)

Adjusting, accepting, and understanding who people are. (You can only change yourself. We are who we are.) Then again, I realize who my true friends are. (True colors come out.)

Last night, it was my first time to reconnect with a close friend since June 2016. Finally, for the first time, we patiently heard both sides of our argument. We both had our misunderstandings. Then, we apologized and forgave each other. Importantly, the problem was resolved. (Do not focus on winning the argument.) This is the start of a stronger friendship. (Communication is the key.)

An entrepreneur once told me, "The toughest part in running a business is controlling human beings."