Short messages on Relationships issues from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
Make a list of tasks that need to be done in the run up to Christmas and ask your family and friends to each put their name to something. Decorate and display this to show it’s importance.
If there’s something you don’t want to do at Christmas, explain why you don’t want to do it, and have a suggestion ready for an alternative. For example instead of taking on all the cooking you could suggest a ‘bring and share’ meal so that everyone takes a share of the work.
Make sure that you have conversations with your family and friends about everyone’s expectations of Christmas well in advance. That way you can deal with any difficult demands and make compromises that suit everyone.
If someone spews hostile words at you, don’t let them get to you. Ignore their crazy antics and respond with kindness and calmness, or ignore them and walk away.
Letting go of negative people doesn’t mean you hate them, or that you wish them harm, it just means you care about your own well-being.
You can’t live a positive life around negative people. Ignore these people and move on from them when you must. Be strong and know when enough is enough.
Some people love to stir up controversy and drama for no apparent reason. Don’t buy in to their propaganda; you can stay out of other people’s drama and needn’t create your own.
When you say sorry, you are standing up to yourself with respect. Saying sorry doesn’t mean there isn’t guilt, and forgiving doesn’t mean there isn’t pain.
When in a long-term relationship, remember what first attracted you together, appreciate how you have grown together, and look forward to your future together.
When in a long-term relationship, people can become complacent about how they treat each other. Criticism, nagging and complaining will weaken your relationship rather than grow it for the better.