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Though these moments may seem trivial, they all add up to big things.
By Unwritten — Written on Dec 14, 2022
By Theresa Faughnan
Many people have had a wide range of experiences with intimate relationships.
Some have experienced relationships where the honeymoon stage seems to linger forever. Others might have experienced a relationship that was uncertain from the start.
Though these experiences are never easy to go through, they help us form the idea of what we want and need in a relationship. Though personal preferences vary, several principles behind a loving relationship remain universal.
Below is a list of the things you should look for when finding love that lasts forever.
1. Effort
When looking for love, we want to be with someone who wants to be with us. Simple, right?
When dating someone, we should ensure that the efforts both parties are putting forth are equal and that this person accents your life (and you accent theirs!).
Complementing each other’s personalities is vital and will help ensure you can make it in the long run.
2. Communication
Getting to know one another, your goals, dreams, and everything in between comes down to one thing only: communication.
You have to express yourself clearly in a relationship. Be transparent about what you want, what you’ve been through, and where you want to go.
Talk to each other in a respectful manner, and when things get tense make sure you are not saying hurtful things. Take a step back to regain composure and pick it back up once you’re both in a better frame of mind.
3. Encouragement
A relationship can only go so far if the partners don’t support each other’s dreams. When you are invested in your partner and want to see them succeed and achieve their goals and dreams, the commitment you have will only grow stronger.
So, take time to regularly check in and see what plans and desires they have. Then, you can construct a plan to achieve it together. Teamwork makes the dream work!
4. Laughter
It’s obvious that you want to spend more time and grow closer to someone who brings you joy. So, be sure to find ways to be silly with your partner.
Check out a local comedy show, watch a sitcom, or even just ham it up and dance ridiculously in the kitchen while cooking together. Though these moments may seem trivial, they all add up to the big things.
5. Exploration
Romance can get lost in the mundane day-to-day. This is why it’s important that partners explore new things together.
This can be trying something new like an activity, craft, or new recipe. It can also evolve into exploring new things sexually. Whichever way you cut it, variety is the spice of life.
I am honored to say that I’m blessed with a partner who is all of these things for me. So much so that I recently made her my wife. Lucky me!
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Theresa Faughnan is a writer and contributor to Unwritten whose work focuses on lifestyle, family, and mental health topics.
This article was originally published at Unwritten. Reprinted with permission from the author.