Communication, trust and respect are the three key ingredients for a healthy and successful relationship, according to most entrants in Family Planning’s Valentine’s Day competition.

 

The competition, run through Family Planning clinics and health promotion teams, asked people to nominate the three things they believed were at the heart of a healthy relationship.

 

“Communication, trust and respect were the three clear winners from the almost 3000 entries received from people attending Valentine’s Day events and those who entered via the Family Planning website, www.familyplanning.org.nz ,” Family Planning Chief Executive Jackie Edmond says.

 

“With Valentine’s Day becoming increasingly commercial and retail-focussed, the overwhelming tone of these entries reassures that people understand that time and effort not money or material things are the most important in a relationship. While the competition was focussed on romantic relationships – communication, trust and respect are the cornerstones of all relationships – with children, with parents, with partners, with family and whanau.”

 

The two winning entries were:

 

Tara Ginsberg

Auckland

 

2 cups of communication, without it - this recipe would be a disaster!

1 1/2 cups of respect - for yourself as well as your loved one.

Finally, a dash of spice, to keep things exciting

 

 

Tracey Davies

Kaitaia

 

Love is when I’m at my worse you still see the beauty in me

Love is patient, kind, understanding

Love is balancing one another, stabilising, a strong foundation to rely on

 

The two winning entries will both receive two Telecom cell phones – to help them keep in touch with their significant other.