Don’t Drop the Glass Ones
Someone I deeply respect once told me that life was like juggling a bunch of balls in the air and trying not to drop them. Some of these balls are plastic and some are glass. We can drop the plastic ones and they’ll still stay intact, but we can’t drop the glass ones because they’re fragile and will shatter into pieces. We must keep the glass balls in the air no matter what, even at the expense of dropping some of the plastic ones.
Relationships are like glass balls. The stresses of everyday life tend to throw curveballs at us while we’re trying to juggle our relationships and responsibilities. This can cause instability and conflict amid trying to keep all the balls in the air, and it will at times be tempting to drop a relationship ball to relieve some of the stress and pressure we feel. For instance, parenting comes with many responsibilities and challenges, and it can be very easy to focus more on doing for our children rather than being with them. Some of us may strive to make more money to buy more things for our children, over-cultivating our relationship with them and providing emotional safety. It’s not that making money and buying things are not important – it’s just that good, healthy, thriving relationships with the people we love are priceless.
Change is hard, but necessary when we attempt to prioritize things in our lives that we’re not currently prioritizing. I believe that positive or negative changes happen within the context of relationships, and without the motivation of a positive or negative relationship dynamic, there would be no need for change in a person’s life. Why change if it’s not for those we love or to understand those we love? Why change if it’s not to avoid hurting other people like others have hurt us? Why change if it’s not to better ourselves in the pursuit of healthy relationships with others in our family, school, friend group, church, or workplace? Relationships are powerful, and without loving, healthy relationships, we are missing out on a key component of connection that it takes to experience a whole and joyful life. We’re not meant to live life in isolation; we’re meant to be in relationships.
I’m a licensed associate counselor and licensed associate marriage and family therapist, and relational work is my passion. I love to see individuals overcome their relationship challenges and connect in meaningful, impactful ways. Something I witness often in couples and families is that their relationships tend to suffer and fall by the wayside when life gets tough. I hope that couples and families can become encouraged and resourced to prioritize their relationships so that they are healthy and thriving. I endeavor to play a small part in this important work because every individual, couple, and family unit – even you and yours – deserves respect, honor, and safety as they embark on the often difficult but rewarding journey towards change and healing.
Brittney Avaritt, MS, LAC, LAMFT, is a licensed associate counselor and licensed associate marriage and family therapist in the state of Arkansas. She can be reached at brittney.avaritt@gmail.com.
