I
s Your Relationship
‘Sunken’ or Just
‘Partially Submerged’?
By L. Joseph Jodoin
I
've encountered several individuals recently whose
relationships seem to be either on the rocks, or pretty close to
it, and have seen the devastation from these failed relationships
that just cuts to the core of the individuals involved. We’ve all
seen and felt the effects of relationships that have crashed and
burned and are often left to wonder what went wrong.
I thought that it would be appropriate to address not just
couple’s relationships but all interpersonal relationships in
general. It may seem that I've either reached a pinnacle of
arrogance because it appears that I am suggesting that I have
“the" answer or that I might just be off my rocker for taking
on a subject as difficult as this in a short article; it is neither.
I'm not proposing a cure for failing relationships but another
way of thinking about them with the hope that it may help
others “navigate” relationships of all kinds. Enter the tale of a
boat and the “can do” attitude of those who refused to give up
on the beloved M.V. Kearsarge and the lesson learned.
By definition an interpersonal relationship is an association
between two or more people that may range in duration from
brief to enduring. Relationships occur between partners, lovers,
spouses, parents, our children, friends, neighbors, divorced
individuals, and yes, even our enemies.
If I have any credentials to speak on the subject it may be
because I have been married for 36 years to my childhood
sweetheart and have an ongoing working relationship with my
“Oh, it [the M.V. Kearsarge]
wasn’t “sunk”, it was
partially submerged; it’s a
subtle difference.”
~
Kathryn Raymond, M.V. Kearsarge,
Sunapee, NH, August 2013
daughters and grandchildren. The operative word here is
“working”. Good relationships take a personal effort.
Sue and I married young, we were 18 and 21. Our
relationship beg