Love is an essential ingredient for nurturing any relationship.

Love is an essential ingredient for nurturing any relationship. Whether it is a parent-child relationship, friendship, sibling relationship or a romantic relationship – love is one of the main factors that keep any relationship alive. Relationships without love are usually short-lived as they do not render happiness. Love is a beautiful and intense emotion that has the power to bring people closer and bind them together. Here is how love impacts people and relationships: Parents are known to love their children selflessly and limitlessly. However, not every child is lucky enough to have been blessed with loving and caring parents. Some parents are so self absorbed that all they think about is themselves. They care about their career and social life more than their children. Children feel neglected in families where both the parents are self engrossed. Lack of love hampers their growth and development. Children who are loved are more joyous and content. Besides, they develop a deep bond with their parents. Love is of utmost importance among siblings. Siblings who truly love each other are there to support one another at every step. They develop a sense of security as they know someone is always there to stand by them. On the other hand, sibling rivalry develops when there is lack of love in this relationship. Romantic relationships are born out of love. Love keeps them alive and the lack of it can be quite frustrating. Couples often drift apart as love among them begins to fade. Friendship born out of love is the strongest. Many people become friends with others because of their social standing or have other selfish motifs. Such friendships do not last long as the true intention of the person is revealed soon. Only those friendships that are based on love last long. While love forms the basis of any relationship, the feeling of love alone is not enough for a happy relationship. There are a number of other things that are needed to nurture a relationship. For instance, parents must render a feeling of safety and security to their children besides loving them dearly. This can be achieved only when they fulfil all their responsibilities properly. The children on the other hand must not only love their parents but also respect and obey them to build a healthy relationship. Similarly, in a romantic relationship, love coupled with trust can build a strong and long lasting relationship. Love without trust can make one feel vulnerable. We feel love for some people and are naturally drawn to them. This is how we make friends, build romantic relationships and connect with our neighbours and extended family members. Getting into different relationships is easy however maintaining them is difficult. Relationships can last long only if we add a dash of other emotions along with love. Humour, trust, honesty, care, kindness and respect are some of these emotions. Love brings people closer and has the power to make any relationship beautiful. We must recognize the importance of love and never hesitate to express it in relationships.

Writer Tapan Kumar Nayak