Be it employer to employee, lovers, family members or friends, when relationship gets too close, it comes natural to people, even among the educated, to want to claim some grounds, invade spaces. They give little weight and seriousness to opinions and decisions, which may be really offending.

It shows itself in the manner they convey their messages, address us, handle our belongings and how they treat us in general. They cross boundaries without remorse, bringing about a lessening of value and worth.

It may not be far to realize this as a result of the closeness. But we are restrained by courtesy, and fear we might weaken the bonds of the relationship if we register how we really feel deep down. The recurrence of this attitude builds up overtime residue of resentment which may backfire in a disproportionate lousy scene over a future apparently minor matter.

We sometimes get confused about how and where to draw the line. And our dear ego, too, demands respect, honour, freedom and independence of expression. It is not bad to form close union. Infact the familiarity should give way to enhancing high esteem of the individual.

We don't really want to come across as someone to be feared, as someone people feel like nervously walking on egg-shell when relating to. Lest you are tagged 'proud and classy'.

I see it as maturity when people treat each other with decency, decorum, sensitivity and the deserved respect no matter how close. It exhibits civility and creates an atmosphere of harmony.

Is it then safer to heed the saying, '' better be feared than loved?'
How can we handle close pals who have no sense of separateness?

What a nice piece here...