By
Gloria Sanchez, Adams County Site Coordinator
As
we step into 2018, many of us use this time as an opportunity to “start fresh” or
on a “clean slate,” setting goals that we wish to accomplish in the new year. Often times these New Year’s resolutions are
set around better finances, health and weight management, personal
accomplishments, and educational milestones.
However, rarely goals are set around bettering and strengthening relationships
with family and friends.
So,
how do we set new goals to make our relationships stronger in the New Year?
In
a research study of 2,000 people conducted by Family & Children’s Services
of Minnesota, participants shared their thoughts and views of what their family
did well. The researchers concluded that
there were nine important factors to keeping a family strong. Read over the following nine factors and see
if any of them might be positive to implement in your own family this new year.
Families
agreed that communication was key to
staying connected. Ideas for this included setting aside a regular time to talk
free of technology, leaving notes for each other, and designating a “safe zone”
or space to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner.
Physical,
emotional, and financial health were
also seen as important. Families
reported staying physically healthy by exercising and staying active as a
family, including things like bike rides, walking, and raking yards together. The stayed emotionally healthy by expressing
their feelings, being mindful, and forgiving each other. Financial welfare was maintained by budgeting,
planning, and talking about finances.
Another
important piece mentioned was spending
time together. Families did this by
preparing or eating meals together, reading to each other, or creating family
time once a week.
Spirituality was the fourth
strongest factor for strong and cohesive families. This was defined and understood in various
ways including talking about and practicing
beliefs, traditions, faith, charity, sacrifice, hope, and love.
Having
a strong support system, respecting each other, and having a sense of unity were also important
factors for keeping a family strong.
Support was understood by these families as listening, understanding,
asking questions, showing affection, giving hugs, cooperating, sharing
responsibilities, being honest, saying “I love you”. Respect was practiced by recognizing each
family member’s strengths, believing in and accepting each other, showing
appreciation, following rules, setting boundaries, and being patient, gentle
and honest. The sense of unity meant
pulling together and rallying around each other, especially in times of need.
Celebrating
cultural traditions that are unique
to each family also creates strength.
Families build this strength by preserving their identity, sharing
stories, teaching traditions, and passing on their cultural heritage.
The
final strength is having an extended sense
of “family.” For many, “family” went
far beyond those living within their home, rather extending to include blood
relatives, in-laws, close friends, and neighbors. As an extended family, they
keep each other informed of important events, build circles of support, love, encouragement,
and care, provide a space for members to seek and trust advice from others.
This
study provides a great deal of great information about building and maintaining
a strong family. Which ones do you feel
like you most connect with? Are there any that you already do well? Which ones might be great to add to your
family’s New Year’s goals for 2018?
#stronger_family_2018
