Hello to everyone! Being a part of this community makes me happy, so I'm excited to take part in the contest today at Ladies of Hive!
In this contest, I'll respond to the second question:
Does love come on suddenly or grow over time? What are your keys to ensure your relationship remains strong healthy?
A great relationship happens not because of the love you had at the beginning, but because of how well you continue to build love until the end.
I've been in a relationship for almost ten years and I can definitely say that things improve with time.
This is my personal story.
My boyfriend was my elementary school crush. He never felt the same way about me back then. He never noticed my presence, which is why I kept it to myself and continue to like him despite being ignored.
However, he transferred to another school when we were in fifth grade. I could feel the loneliness of that time even when I was very young. But I've never forgotten about him since.
For me, after 8 years, it feels like we're destined to see each other again in how many years. This is the point at which he asked for my phone number to one of our mutual friends, which is how we started communicating with each other.
We both came from a broken relationship during that time. Despite this, we attempted to commit ourselves once more without knowing what would happen to us in the future.
At first, I thought it was a joke and that we wouldn't last long, but I'm glad that "my childhood crush, was finally my boyfriend now."
Though we are in doubt about everything, we have learned over time to make our love even stronger than before. For all of our experiences and all of our struggles, I am grateful that we have gotten this far.
Here are the keys to keeping our relationship strong and healthy.
Choose to stay no matter what!
I believe that love alone is insufficient to sustain a relationship. Every day is not always ideal for a couple. Time will put our love, patience, and trust in each other to the test; there will be times when we cannot go on, but choosing to stay no matter what will make all the difference. It's not just about making the decision because you want to, but because staying means you truly loved the person no matter what happened or what it took, and that's a different kind of love that everyone should have.
Respect and trust each other!
They say that if you truly love someone, you must trust him or her. When you trust your partner, you can be more open and giving to one another. And if you trust someone, you are more likely to be forgiving of your flaws and annoying behaviors because you believe in them and know you have their back.
One thing that is extremely important is that everyone respects one another. Respect each other's differences and the fact that none of you are perfect. You have to accept someone for who and what they are. Love is all about accepting and appreciating each other's flaws. Because mutual respect fosters feelings of trust, safety, and well-being.
Maintain your privacy!
In a long-term committed relationship, your partner should come first, above all else in your life. You don't have to share your partner's weaknesses, insecurities, and vulnerabilities with the rest of the world. Keeping your relationship private allows you to respect and honor them.
These are the things that, in my opinion, keep our relationship strong and healthy; and now I am happy that we are going to celebrate our 10th Anniversary this coming April, 29.
Keep in mind that no one is perfect; we must accept this and work through these issues together.
