I know you've heard it before: "A real relationship takes a lot of work." But have you ever really believed it? We all know the divorce rate statistic. But what you probably didn't know is that of the 50 percent who do get divorced, only 12 percent of those couples actually thought they would get a divorce.
My point being, no one really thinks going into a relationship that it will end. No one hopes that their heart will get broken, and no one is excited for a relationship to come to a hurtful end. So why do so many relationships fall apart?
Many factors apply when considering why a relationship ended. Someone maybe cheated, they lied, there was no honesty or they didn't feel loved. But how did it get to that point? How did the relationship go from hopeful, to deceitful?
Today, it is almost impossible to protect your relationship from harm. Social media does a fantastic job of permeating our every day lives. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat all contribute to the massive amounts of sexual content that crumbles relationships.
Because of the constant flow of X rated content that is so easily accessible--and so easy to hide, it has become normal to look at and engage in sexual activities outside of the relationship. Call me old fashioned, but the line between looking and touching is too fine to dance on.
When that line between looking and touching begins to break, what do we do? We run away and act like we could never love them.
Just because someone is in a relationship, does not mean they will be perfect. Perfection is unachievable in every aspect of our lives. And that is the beauty of loving someone. When you truly love someone, the mistakes, pain caused and the work to make it right, should all be worth it.
When you love someone, a roadblock in the relationship does not mean it won't get better. All it means, is that the road ahead will be so much stronger.
Love is tricky. It makes us forgive things that seem impossible to forgive. It makes us want to swim across oceans, jump over mountains and pick up the whole world just to give it to them. Love is tricky because today, loving someone no matter what is rare.
With instant gratification just on the other side of that computer screen, phone, magazine, or club, how can we protect ourselves and do right by the ones we love?
I may not have all the answers but I know a few. Delete the apps, delete the accounts, surround yourself with people who know what is right for you, and tell the truth.
None of those things are easy, but they are all worth it to create a relationship that lasts.
When you love someone, you don't give up.
So my question to you is this:
If you can't do all of those things for your significant other, do you really love them?
