The Need for Time, Trust and Meaningful Communication
(By Prof. S. S. Dogra)
What if you are far away? You are still close to my soul,
Your presence lingers quietly in everything I feel.
Meeting and parting may be matters of destiny,
But true love is when even distance has its own beauty.
Many travellers will cross our paths in life,
Some will touch our souls, while others will disappear into the mist.
Life is, in many ways, a long journey of relationships. Countless people enter our lives along the way. Some remain acquaintances, some become friends, while a few gradually become so deeply connected to us that they find a permanent place in our memories and, sometimes, in our very souls. Such relationships do more than provide companionship; they give life meaning, warmth, sensitivity and solace.
Yet, in today’s fast-paced world, one of the greatest challenges facing relationships is that we seem to have time for almost everything except the people who matter most. Work, responsibilities, ambitions and the digital world often leave little room for genuine human connection. We may appear constantly connected, yet emotionally, we can find ourselves drifting further apart.
So, how can relationships remain strong?
- “Time Is More Precious Than Any Gift”
Relationships need our time more than expensive gifts. Sitting together over a cup of tea, putting the phone away for a while and having a meaningful conversation, asking someone how they are doing, or simply standing beside them during a difficult moment—these seemingly small gestures can create immense warmth.
In a busy life, making time for someone is, in itself, a way of saying: “You have a place in my life.”
- “Honesty and Communication Are the Lifeblood of a Relationship”
In every relationship, it is not necessary to have one’s way all the time. But constantly suppressing important feelings is equally unhealthy. Misunderstandings often begin where communication ends.
If something hurts, talk about it. If there is disagreement, express it respectfully. If there is a grievance, do not allow it to accumulate silently. The purpose of communication should not be to win an argument, but to understand each other.
At the same time, honesty must be accompanied by sensitivity. Not every truth needs to be spoken at every moment or in every manner. The way we communicate the truth can be as important as the truth itself.
- “Listening Is Also a Language of Love”
The first requirement of any meaningful relationship is the ability to listen.
Listening does not merely mean hearing words. It means trying to understand the emotions, silence and circumstances behind those words.
Sometimes people do not want solutions. They simply want someone who will listen without interrupting, judging them or turning the conversation into their own story. When we listen with our whole heart, we convey a powerful message: “You matter to me.”
- “Deep Affection Often Lives in Small Things”
Relationships are not built only during major occasions. They grow through the little things we do every day.
Appreciating someone’s efforts, celebrating their achievements, offering help in difficult times, checking on someone without any personal motive, or simply saying, “Take care of yourself,” can sometimes transform an entire day for another person.
Love in a relationship is not merely about grand declarations. It is sustained by consistent, everyday acts of care.
- “Trust: The Most Fragile Capital of a Relationship”
Trust is the strongest foundation of any relationship. It may take years to build, but only a moment to damage.
Keeping promises, respecting confidences, standing by someone in difficult circumstances and protecting their dignity even in their absence are among the true tests of trust.
And when trust is broken, it cannot usually be restored through words alone. It has to be rebuilt through consistent behaviour, transparency and time.
- “Learn to Appreciate the People You Love”
We often have countless expectations from those closest to us, yet forget to express gratitude for their presence.
Sometimes, simply saying “Thank you,” “You are important to me,” or “I appreciate you” can have an emotional impact far greater than an expensive gift.
Human beings do not merely need love; they also need to feel that their love is valued.
- “Compromise, But Without Losing Self-Respect”
Differences are inevitable in every relationship. Two individuals with different personalities, experiences and perspectives cannot agree on everything.
Sometimes, taking a step back, understanding the other person’s circumstances or letting go of an unnecessary insistence can help preserve a relationship.
But compromise should never mean surrendering one’s dignity, self-respect or personal boundaries. A healthy relationship is one in which love coexists with respect and closeness with mutual boundaries.
- “Social Media Has Reduced Distance, But Not Necessarily Emotional Distance”
Technology has made it possible to connect with someone sitting anywhere in the world with just one click. Yet emotional loneliness remains a growing concern.
Our phones may contain hundreds of contacts, but there may be only a handful of people with whom we can truly share what is in our hearts.
The need today, therefore, is not merely to remain connected, but to remain emotionally connected.
Sometimes, switching off the mobile phone, looking into the eyes of the person sitting across from us, listening to them and being fully present for a few moments can be the most meaningful form of communication.
- “What the Bhagavad Gita Says About Human Relationships”
The Bhagavad Gita also offers profound insights into human conduct and relationships. Lord Krishna says:
“Adveshta sarva-bhutanam maitrah karuna eva cha.”
— Bhagavad Gita, 12.13
The verse describes one who bears no hatred towards any being and embodies friendship and compassion.
This spirit has considerable relevance to human relationships: replacing hostility with friendship, harshness with compassion and ego with understanding.
The Gita also reminds us of the importance of self-control. Anger can cloud judgement; therefore, pausing before reacting, particularly in moments of emotional tension, can itself be an expression of care and maturity.
- “Relationships Do Not Have to Be Perfect; They Have to Be Genuine”
Relationships are not formed between perfect people. Every individual has shortcomings, every relationship encounters disagreements, and every bond may go through difficult phases.
A strong relationship is not necessarily one in which distance never appears. It is one in which communication does not disappear when distance does.
Trying to understand someone rather than constantly trying to change them, leaving room for forgiveness after mistakes, maintaining respect despite disagreement, and standing together during difficult times—these are the real tests of a relationship.
Ultimately, life brings many things along with it—position, money, recognition and achievements. But when we look back, our most precious memories are often associated with the people who held our hand at a difficult turn, listened when we needed to be heard, or stood by us without expecting anything in return.
The real wealth of a relationship is not money. It is time, trust, respect, communication and affection.
So, do not merely maintain relationships—feel them.
Do not merely stay together—stand by one another.
Do not merely express love—translate love into your actions.
Perhaps the essence of the Gita’s wisdom for relationships can be expressed in these simple lines:
“Listen without ego.
Speak without anger.
Understand without prejudice.
Forgive without keeping score.
Respect without conditions.
And love without selfishness.”
These are not merely principles for sustaining relationships. They are ways of making human relationships more meaningful, compassionate and worth living.
(Author-Prof.S.S.Dogra-Bureau Chief-Delhi for Himalini Magazine, Nepal & Member of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia.)
