The Sweetest Valentine is?a Healthy Relationship! ? From Here to ...

It?s Valentine?s Day, where all is adorned in shades of pink and red, and retailers are stuffed to bursting with candy, valentines, and treats.? Love is in the air.

We at ZCenter know there?s a whole lot more to love than simply celebrating it on one day out of a whole year.? Love entails healthy relationships, consent, respect, and communication.? It does not matter how old you are or how long you have been with your partner?respect and consent are vital to a good relationship.

How can we promote healthy relationships, on Valentine?s Day and all year long?? Here are some tips, courtesy of our Prevention Education department.

• Keep your expectations realistic.? No one can be everything we might want them to be.? Healthy relationships mean accepting people as they are and not trying to change them.
• Know each other?s boundaries and respect them.? Consent is valuable in every situation, and it?s a sign of respect for ourselves and our date.
• Communicate! Know how to speak your mind, but do learn to do it in a considerate, empathetic way.
• Be flexible.? It?s natural to feel uneasy about changes.? Healthy relationships mean that change and growth are allowed.
• Pay attention to you, too.? Have interests outside of each other. Firstly this gives you space, and secondly, it gives you fresh material to talk about.
• Fight fair.? Most relationships have some conflict.? That only means you disagree about something, and it doesn?t mean you no longer like one another.
• Smile and show your interest.? Relationships thrive through sharing warmth and knowing each other.
• Keep your life balanced!? Have some fun, enjoy life, and people will enjoy your company more.
• Remember that sometimes it takes time. ?Most people have similar feelings about fitting in and getting along with others.? Healthy relationships can be learned and practiced and keep getting better.
• Lastly, maintain your individuality. ?It?s easier and more fun to be authentic than to pretend to be something else.? Healthy relationships are made of real people!

Here?s to a very happy Valentine?s Day for all of us and for healthy relationships all year round!

Source: http://zcenter.org/blog/?p=302

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