One
of the most complex things in life, I feel, are relationships…and I am not
talking about all the familial relationships or romantic ones. I am referring
to relationships between any two individuals. Each relationship has a reference
to context, some baggage, some expectations which affect the nature of the
relationship over a period of time. However, even with people you have known
for a pretty long time, there are always some things about their behavior that
confuse you and often, this has to do with communication- the nature, the
frequency or the lack of it.
One of
those random conversations with a friend got me thinking…
If you look
around you, usually you can categorize most of the people around you into 3
types (alright, I know that sounds simplistic… but bear with me)… and I am
talking about people you have a relationship with, with whom you have shared
interests, experiences and life in general.
There are
the Self-Sufficient type - who are so occupied with themselves, that they never
have time for anyone or anything else… and I don’t mean to run them down… it’s
just that, that’s how/who they are. They are very involved in, their work,
their issues, their problems, their successes and so on and basically don’t
have the time, or feel the necessity to nurture relationships. They actually do
not even think about anyone else or have any need for people. It’s not that
they are not good with people or that if you were to put them amongst people
they would be lost … or any such thing… it’s just that they will rarely
initiate an interaction unless there is a need ( as in unless they have some
work with the other person). There is no calling casually to check how you are
doing or to say hey, let’s meet. They will rarely remember anything that
happens in your life and have only temporary, superficial interest in it even
when you are talking about it. However, another thing that is rather typical of
this type is that if someone else initiates it, they will usually accept pretty
pleasantly and also proceed to enjoy the interaction. And that makes one wonder
why they do not initiate it?
Then there
are the Needy ones – who have no hesitation in disturbing you whenever and
wherever, if THEY wish to talk.. and insist that you listen/make time for them.
They will forget your very existence until the day they have a problem that
they need help with, in whatever form… to vent, to empathize, or something
else. Their problems are always the biggest… so huge, and all encompassing that
no solution you offer would actually fix it. They are also the kind who will go
on the “why me” trip for which one rarely has the appropriate answer (I mean,
come on, one cannot tell a bawling friend that her husband is getting jealous
coz she has been flirting shamelessly, can you?). They are the kind who will
ask you how you are, but never wait for the answer, or even hear the answer.
Every conversation will be completely focused on them. They are also the kind
who will brush aside everything in your life as insignificant…or turn it around
on to something that happened to them and how that was sooo much bigger! This
type is the seriously exhausting variety… take up time, energy and emotional
bandwidth and leave you feeling like a used dish-cloth wrung out one time too
many.
And then
there are the Available ones - who make time for everything and everyone. Who
will kill themselves to ensure that they remember to call you on every
important day of your life. If you call and say I am down, they will make time
to go have coffee with you…and their deadline be damned… they can always do
with pulling an all-nighter to finish it… after all you need them. The problem
with this type is that everyone seems to think they do not have a life and
worse no one acknowledges it. No one bothers to ask them if they have a
problem… in fact even when they come out and say they have a problem, they have
a tough time finding someone to share it with. They are also the kind who can
never seem to come out and say “I don’t have time” or “I am not interested” and
as a result everyone tends to take them for granted.
Having said
this, I would really like to hear some other viewpoints on the topic…
Relationships are something you think about, dwell on, dwell in, and keep pace with all your life. They change, evolve and sometimes just fade away. The three types you talk about - I guess they exist in everyone's life. I am sure I fit all three categories depending on whom you ask. I suppose part of growing up is knowing that they will all be there and maybe we need them to learn and to grow.
ReplyDeleteThe trick probably is to try and not take for granted ones we do and make allowances for others.Easier said than done :) Keep writing.
There is a fourth kind. Those who are always there, but never anywhere near us...those are the ones whom we remember while looking at the still water of a green pond, under the shade of banyan trees; and when we suddenly hear the sound of a steam locomotive chugging slowly through the vast rice field; and when a gust of wind blows us unsteady on our feet; and when, all of a sudden we hear someone calling our names, and turning around we don't find anyone nearby...the ones who are never there in the outside world, but are always there...deep inside!
ReplyDeleteI wonder, what kind I am!!!