Relationships

Its a big word really isn't it? It covers everything that is important - Family, friends, partners, housemates, colleagues. Each individual relationship is special, sometimes intimate, but all equally fragile. Just one word can destroy years of work, and three words can make it eternal.

I question this now as November was a roller coaster month in which each different group of people was equally as important in what was a very stressful month. At times I know I lost it with my closest friends, took out my frustrations, and for me it is unforgivable, but ultimately it was unintentional.

A happy time was found within the celebration of my birthday, with friends coming from across the UK to be there with me. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have friends like that.

My family, unconditionally supportive through work stress, break ups, financial crisis and celebrations.

My colleagues - those that took brunt of the stress yet still unbelievably supportive despite feeling they were walking on egg shells.

My boyfriend, now ex - you cant help but question whether the stress was a factor in the breakup.

My housemate - relentlessly supportive in every way to ensuring I had clean clothes, food on the table, money in my pocket and a shoulder to cry on.

But no matter what, all (but the boyfriend) will continue to be constants in my life forever.

Within these relationships, lines become blurred. My housemate is more like family. The girls from Uni are my surrogate sisters. My colleagues are my friends. My family are my rock. My friends sometimes even become my lovers... it all becomes so entwined.

That last dual relationship is where you have to be careful though. Do you risk all those years of friendship to find love? Or do you never find out? What if that friend really is "the one"?

I was at a talk in London last night, and was told that women settle down with their 11th sexual partner. Could this be true? Should women be hoping to settle down by that point? I guess i am opening a whole new can of worms with this one, and maybe something that I should explore at a later date, but food for thought none the less.

Each and every one of us are blessed with these relationships, and I genuinely believe it has taken me this long to realise just how lucky I am. At 25 my life is enriched and supported by these people, and without them, I am nothing.