| ����������� Exchanging thoughts and ideas plays an important role in a relationship.� People often, not realizing it, lose track of this valuable concept.� Sometimes a person enters into a relationship not knowing how to communicate, while others know but frequently give up.� No matter what the reason is for the lack of verbal sharing, the results can cause unwanted hardships.� Scott and Katie Nelson, for example, were goodhearted people who had more than their share of miscommunication. |
| ����������� Assumption is one factor with which Scott had many difficult bouts.� This is a problem most everyone has been guilty of at least once.� And it is one that can lead to numerous problems.� It took a while for Scott Nelson to realize that it is never a good idea to assume someone knows what you are thinking, especially the Missus.� Neither is it good to reckon that what you feel is a good idea will be agreeable with the other.� For example, one day Scott decided to go out and buy a new 35" color TV, assuming Katie would be delighted.� Boy, was he in for a big surprise.� Katie became so upset over the fact that he hadn't discussed it with her first that she assumed that he would enjoy sleeping on the broken down sofa that night. |
| ����������� Relationships can likewise be led astray in a big way by a small word called "pride."� How hard is it to apologize and admit that you are wrong?� For some people, like Scott Nelson, it can be quite a challenge.� With Katie readily pointing out the facts that she was right and he was wrong, there was no need for him to try any further to explain his reasoning.� She had obviously found her own conclusion.� So why should he humble himself?� |
| ����������� Social life can also cause a lack of communication in a relationship.� Katie enjoyed talking on the phone and going out with the girls while she wasn't at work, as well as squeezing in an occasional Stephen King novel.� Well, with all this self-time, she didn't leave much talk time for Scott.� She often found herself arguing with him over something that she swore she had told him.� But, as it turned out, she would discuss a situation with her friends and colleagues, and only thought she had talked about it with Scott.� |
| ����������� When the Nelsons first married, Katie had pretty good communication skills.� Scott, on the other hand, hadn't been taught.� His parents had divorced because they could not communicate, and Scott and Katie were headed down the same road.� They were very much in love and wanted more than anything to make one another happy.� But when two people can?t correspond together, they often lose hope and feel that the other is selfish.� This happened with the young Nelsons when, after Katie tried to get Scott to communicate with her and failed numerous times.� She soon lost interest and, without realizing it, failed to convey her own thoughts with him. |
| ����������� Fortunately, the Nelson's realized that their marriage was declining drastically.� They finally decided to sit down and have a heart-to-heart discussion about it.� They wanted to come up with a plan that would put them back in correlation with one another.� In agreement to save their marriage, they decided to seek counseling.� Little did they know they had already taken the first step toward a healthier relationship. |
| ����������� While the Scott and Katie Nelson case is just one example of a lack of communication, it is a frequent problem that can have a serious outcome.� Not always do people discover the problem before it is too late.� If you are in this situation, stop what you are doing, sit down with your other half, and communicate. |
| Communicationship? |
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| April 22, 2002 |