Build Bridges, Not Walls.

I want to take this opportunity to share to you a story of the broadness of communication and how it can build bridges and also walls between people.

I was able to keep track of the life of this very familiar boy from the past. He was not like the other boys who would stay out to play with friends and laugh together; rather, he’d stay at home all day and spend his hours in front of the computer. He doesn’t like making friends with other kids. He’d refuse every invitation to a party. He doesn’t want sharing his problems with his parents. He was a quiet guy. But there came a time when he fell into realization that he should change himself. That boy worked hard to make new friends by speaking up to them and he won friends. He felt good. He thought that communicating merely is enough. He met the girl of his dreams. They got to know each other, dated, and he courted her. But like any other love story, theirs was not a fairytale. Yes they talk but there is no direction. Yes they communicate but all they shared was heartache. Then, they stopped communicating.

Communication is indeed one of the most vital aspects of a successful relationship. It is a two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which participants not only exchange information but also create and share meaning. All communications can help a relationship grow or wither. Lack of communication in a relationship can result in hasty decisions that can even lead to separation. Let’s go back to the main theme of this speech: Communication building relationship. This theme has two faces: “Bad Communication Builds Walls in a Relationship” and “Effective Communication Builds Bridges in a Relationship.” In order for us to build a healthy relationship, we need to be effective communicators. When we are effective communicators, we would probably produce the result we desire. No matter how well you know and love each other you need to keep your communication alive. We need to communicate clearly so that we can avoid misunderstandings that may cause hurt, anger or confusion. But in order for us to build a strong relationship with the aid of communication, we should also be a good listener. Oftentimes, we miss this part. We talk so much that we sometimes forget to listen.

He lost the girl he adored because they both invested bad communication before. It caused walls between them and hatred in their hearts. But like any other love story, theirs is a true gift. Despite the walls surrounding them, they are blessed for they’ve seen a small hole of hope. This became they’re foundation to start a new beginning. They worked hard to gain what is truly theirs- bridges, and not walls.

Communication is a skill that you can learn. It's like riding a bicycle or typing. If you're willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life. Friends, let us not be just communicators. Let us all be effective communicators for us to build bridges and not walls.