Bridge to Wellness

The Art of Loving Well: A Look into Healthy Relationships

by Kara Nold & Sarah Wilczynski

February, for many, marks the start of a month full of celebrating love and the relationships we have with others.

Coinciding with the celebration of love, February is also Healthy Relationships Month. A healthy relationship does not necessarily mean a “perfect” relationship. Relationships ebb and flow, but they should help you bring out the best in yourself and make you feel good. As you take time to celebrate the love and relationships in your life, we encourage you to also think about the health of those relationships, romantic and otherwise.

Traits such as respect, compassion, trust, honesty, and communication should be at the core of every relationship and should not have to be “earned.” These traits help you know that the other has your back, even on the worst days, and will work with you to resolve any conflicts that may arise. You don’t always have to know what’s going on with each other or have to agree with every decision the other person makes, to care about how it affects them and to be supportive.

Taking it one step further, your relationships should involve equal participation from both parties. This does not mean every day is 50/50, but over time, you each take on balance of relationship responsibilities. This balance also allows each person to maintain independence in the relationship to explore things they enjoy doing on their own. Independent time allows each person to learn, grow, and maintain a sense of self.

Overall, your relationships should be fun and exciting to participate in. If you’re not sure where your relationship falls, JoinOneLove.org has assembled “10 Signs of a Healthy Relationship” that takes a deeper dive into some of the traits mentioned and how they play a part in a healthy relationship. Reflecting on these 10 signs can help you assess the health of your relationships.

You can also find information on healthy relationships at loveisrespect.org or through their hotline at 1-866-331-9474. If you’d like to work on your relationship with someone, or yourself, Chelsea Hospital’s behavioral health navigators can help you find a professional to help. For information, email BHNavigator@trinity-health.org.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call Michigan’s Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-866- 864-2338 or text LOVEIS to 22522.

This column is sponsored by the Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition. Kara Nold is a Master of Public Health student at Eastern Michigan University and an intern at Chelsea Hospital’s Community Health Department. Sarah Wilczynski is the Mental Health Awareness & Training Coordinator for Chelsea Hospital.

As you celebrate the relationships in your life, think about the health of those relationships, romantic and otherwise. Image credit: Mel Poole on unsplash.com