By CHIOMA ODUCHE
Relationship refers to the way in which two or more people, groups, or things are connected, interact, or relate to each other. It encompasses a wide range of connections, including: Personal Relationships: These include familial, romantic, or friendships.
A relationship can also mean a close connection between two people, especially one involving romantic or sexual feelings.
Many people confuse love, commitment and sex or assume the three always go hand-in-hand. There are many ways to express love, and you don’t need to have sex with someone to show them you love them. Having sex with someone also does not necessarily mean you are in love with them.
Sexual relationships work best when both partners are clear about what they want. If you don’t tell your partner what you want, he or she might find you expecting different things. One of you might be looking for a fling, and the other for marriage!
Having sex in a committed relationship can make people feel closer and more loving. Having sex in non-committed relationship can also be lots of fun and can make people feel like better friends. Whether you have a one night fling or a fifty-year marriage, it is very important that you like, respect and trust your partner and that you feel liked, respected and trusted by them, as well.
When entering into a new relationship and throughout the course of a relationship (since our expectations often change over time!), talk about whether you want a relationship that is:
Committed or non-committed? Do you want a commitment such as marriage, long-term dating, raising children, sharing finances, and/or sharing a home, or do you want a less committed dating relationship?
Friendly or romantic? Do you want a relationship that is based on friendship, or do you prefer a romantic, emotionally intimate relationship?
Sexual or non-sexual? Do you expect that you will want to have sex with this person? If you do, are there some sexual activities you want to do and others you do not?
