Maybe you have a ring, and that is fine. But I do not need to hold my relationship to the standard you set yours at.

See, the problem with our generation being so heavily focused on social media is that we document every second of our life- including our romantic relationships. You can't scroll through without seeing #MCM or #WCW, or a post about the cute date they went on last night. Even the single people of the world are not exempt- with "relationship goals" and posts about their ideal relationship.

And then there is the spread of "ring fever"- one couple gets engaged, and then all of her friends get jealous. And of the guys feel the pressure- "have we been dating longer? should I get a ring? am I ready for that?"

So this is to you, the panicked couples comparing your relationship to that of your friends. This is your friendly reminder that your relationship does not need to follow the same timeline as your friends. You don't have to cross milestones at the same time, or in the same order, or any of that. That is not your relationship. This is your relationship.

Did your friends get engaged? That is great. Congratulate them. Have they been dating less time than you have? That is okay, too. Maybe you aren't ready. You don't have to be. They may be at different points in their life, and therefore their relationship. You are not obliged to meet their standard.

Did your friends in a budding relationship say "I love you" for the first time, but you have not said yours yet? There is no rule that you have to.

Did your friends buy a house together, or go one a cute date, or her boyfriend bought her a lavish gift, or they went on an exotic getaway? Well great news. Your relationship is not less because that did not happen to you. You relationship is valid, as long as your are happy.