Family Relationships - Forgive and Forget the Little Things

http://www.daveanddawncook.com Do you realize that if you want to be truly happy, you must make all your relationships great, especially those with your family? I know Im pretty happy now, but when I stop and think about it, I know things would be so much better if all my family relationships were great.

One of the important ways to establish and maintain a great relationship is the ability to forgive and forget the little things. We are all human so there can be many little things that occur. In reality though, true big issues or problems happen very rarely. The trick is to properly recognize that almost everything is little and respond accordingly. The true BIG thing is the time already invested in the relationship and the many years to come in the relationship that can be empowering and precious. Thats the BIG thing that must be protected and nurtured.

A misunderstanding is a perfect example of a little thing that can often occur in any relationship. If its a great relationship already or both parties are working to make it a great relationship, the misunderstanding is quickly recognized as such and then its forgiven and forgotten. My family has recently experienced your typical family misunderstanding and some in the family have not yet recognized it for the little thing that it is. It is being pushed forward into the future and allowed to grow and further damage some family relationships. It is very sad and I have been making efforts to help others recognize the need to let it go and move on.

In the past, I probably would have been one of the family members who over-reacted to the misunderstanding and caused more damage. Luckily, I can say that it is the personal development skills that I have been learning recently that have allowed me to respond in a positive and productive way. I realize now that it is so sad to allow a little thing to cause even any damage in a life-long family relationship; let alone, allowing it to continue to live and be pushed forward to cause more damage. I want to recognize all future issues as little things and work to strengthen and maintain all my family relationships. I will be very excited if some of you will join me in this goal. Well benefit immensely and so will our families.

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• Relationships
• Forgive
• and
• Forget
• daveanddawncook
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• long
• brother
• sister
• mom
• dad
• forgiveness
• conflict
• hurt
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• Little
• Things

[beapinkie9]

im so nervous im going to tell my mom everything. like how i feel we arent close and how she doesnt understand me. and how its so hard to be perfect for her. wish me luck.

[DaveandDawnC]

@beapinkie9 I do wish you luck. Talking openly should be effective.

[patchnesssss]

Are you a Psychology teacher?

[DaveandDawnC]

@patchnesssss No I'm not

[jshenman]

Thank you for doing this. I miss my family very much.

Jo

[DaveandDawnC]

You are welcome, Jo. I hope I didn't make you miss them more. Have a great weekend! Dawn

[kirkconway]

my mom and dad was like this too in thier later yr's Dawn,

cynical, or act like hippocrite's.

town people here are intimidated and cold too, or cynical

I know most small town's in the midwest are terrified to have new pople move in

even though thier nice people ,

selfish attitude.closed minded..

[kirkconway]

Hi Dawn yea i know all your saying.

i talk to my uncle. or aunt, she's my moms sister, but my uncle act's like a stuck up old coot that wont talk to me and no matter what i do ?

I dont think he really gives a darn about anything,

he'll talk to other cousin's and visit with them,

but me,,, nothing,

sit,s with friend's,and town people he know's,

and talks to them.

but no matter what i say to him it's nothing, or he dont care.

[steveshoemaker1]

Great video Dawn and some wonderful truths you share here. Little things should not be allowed to fester or blow up to the point that people are pulled apart by them.

[sadnessalwaysfollows]

@geniussquared Like your take on this, I know I have gone through so much with my family and in laws.

[familyresourcehub]

Thanks Dawn for your sharing. It is so true that most of the things that develop tension within family relationships, especially in married couples, are minor irritations. The sad thing is words said in the high emotional moments further destroy that relationship. Your wisdom to recognize how little those irritations are when putting into the full perspective of marriage or family is an excellent advice.