When I was a kid, I used to think that relationships were all sunshine and butterflies 24/7. I thought that any relationship would end with "happily ever after", as long as two people loved each other. In fact, I believed that love was the only thing two people needed in order to make things work. As I've gotten older and been in a few relationships myself, I know that isn't the case at all and that I probably just watched way too many Disney movies growing up.

Relationships are great and there is nothing more beautiful than two people in love. But the truth is that relationships can be hard. They require continuous work and effort. The relationships that actually last, often require lots of patience and forgiveness. The beginning excitement of any relationship will eventually fade. And when it does, those two people have to wake up every day and choose to love each other. Love isn't always a feeling, sometimes it's a choice, and sometimes it's a tough one to make.

I know for me personally, I've found that the best way to combat the tough times, is to pause and think about all the good times instead. When I stop to think about all the reasons I love my boyfriend, I usually find myself being less angry and less upset about the issue. That doesn't mean that I forget all about what's bothering me, but it does make me reevaluate the situation and figure out if it's something I should truly be upset about or if I'm just being petty or overthinking.

And even though I hate to admit it, I often find that I'm the one who needs to fix my attitude or my view on the situation. But either way, at the end of the day, infatuation is what I feel and love is what I choose. Infatuation is easy and exciting, but love is kind, gentle, and powerful all at once. It's frustrating, comforting, beautiful, and ugly at times. It knows no limits except for the ones we choose to set for ourselves. The choice to love someone isn't always easy, but for the right person, it will always be worth it.