The narrative that evaluating behaviors and emotions are only relevant in a romantic context is creating incomplete relationships. Platonic and family-based relationships have the same complexity and need for active participation as romantic relationships.
When it comes to intimacy, people tend to relate it to sexual or romantic relationships, but sexual intimacy is one of the seven forms. The other seven forms of intimacy include emotional, spiritual, intellectual, recreational, aesthetic, and physical. From going to a movie with your parents to telling your friends about your deepest secrets, activities done out of a desire to be around people more leads to one of the seven types of intimacy.
Every type of relationship that holds some importance to you will have some form of intimacy. That intimacy is what builds relationships that are based on mutual trust and respect. But with that intimacy comes the responsibility to treat the relationship fairly.
Romantic relationships are not the most important or the only one that needs the effort to be maintained. Toxic behavior doesn't wait for romantic partners and can lead to manipulative or abusive behavior in platonic or family-based relationships.
The effort to apologize for mistakes, the art of making time to spend with them, and the beauty of learning more about the person you spend your time with are all vital to keeping a healthy dynamic.
In addition to checking your own behavior, evaluating the behavior and emotions present within every relationship that you are a part of not only helps to make sure that you don't get stuck in a bad situation, it also helps rid the world of the narrative that romantic relationships are the most important relationships. Not only does that put too much pressure on romantic relationships, but it invalidates all the other relationships that are vital to being socially healthy.
Friendships should never be passive and weak imitations of romantic relationships, and they should have the same level of effort as any romantic relationship.
