Rebuilding Bridges

How do you rebuild bridges?

How do you mend relationships?

Recently I have found that some of my relationships need mending. For a long time I was okay with them being fractured. Let's face it, sometimes I just stopped feeling that the relationship was even worth trying to repair. Or I didn't want to go through the possible conflict, fights, or misunderstanding that sometimes happens when trying to rebuild those bridges.

How do you start talking about the disappointments, or apathy, or resentments that I had toward these people or their feelings toward me. I do not like conflict. I avoid it when I can, so relationships suffer.

People have told me to be honest with how I feel. Be specific that the reason I am telling people these things is to reconnect with them, to clear the air. It sounds very difficult.

The best case scenario is that the other person would realize that I am trying, I am sincere in wanting to reconnect. The worst....That I am further misunderstood, and that they feel further removed from me.

I hope that by being honest about the things that I am missing from not having a richer relationship with them, the lack of understanding what a great person they are, the admiration I have for some of the things that they have done, will be a way I can start the process. To admit my faults (of which there are quite a few) and to love them regardless of what response I get back. To value them.

Yes....I think that may be a good beginning.