Years ago, I had a friend who seemed to be really happy in her relationship.
You know, like bring you flowers?
My guy is always doing little things to show me affection."
Suddenly, she started demanding that her boyfriend start acting romantic.
When he told her that he wasn’t into “empty romantic gestures” things quickly fizzled.
The story is not unique.
Sometimes you’re not even sure you’re in love but the baby shows up.
Love does not have to follow a linear path.
Blaze your own trail!
Pro tip: Life is short.
Accept and embrace your happiness as it comes.
Who cares what comes first?
Romance is roses and candlelight dinners
In the movies, things tend to follow a predictable pattern.
Or… they might get your car’s oil changed so you don’t have to worry about it.
Or… they spot your favorite ice cream on sale and pick up a couple pints.
Or… they regularly scour local events for something new you could try together.
Romance comes in all forms.
Do you really need anything more?
For those who really mean it, it’s pretty amazing.
I can’t even lie.
Who wouldn’t want to be the object of that level of affection?
Still, it’s not reasonable to expect your partner to do something like that.
In fact, that’s the reason why we all marvel at those videos it’s uncommon and unexpected.
There’s this unrealistic belief that, as soon as they physically connect, everything will fall into place.
Pro tip: Don’t expect sex to solve all of your problems and be incredible the first time.
For many people, it’s a work in progress!
Be open, communicate, and keep trying!
The suggestion is that the right person will, somehow, make us feel whole.
That’s a great idea, in theory, but it sets a lot of people up for failure.
The truth is that, even with a great partner, you will feel lonely sometimes.
We all have moments when we feel misunderstood or lost.
No one person is going to change that.
Pro tip: If you want to feel complete, work on yourself.
Find your own happiness and confidence then bring that to your relationship.
We absolutely need more than love!
If something feels like it’s off, it is worth investigating.
They’d say things like “something seemed wrong but he/she was just so nice.”
Sit and mull things over… while you enjoy the treat!
Despite how sweet the movies make parenthood seem, it’s a lot of work.
Some people buy into this idea that their relationship isn’t complete unless they have a baby.
Otherwise, we risk living an unfulfilled life where we both miss out on spectacular levels of joy.
I’d never be arrogant enough to say that soulmates don’t exist.
Some part of me hopes that they do.
Pro tip: Don’t put a crazy amount of pressure on yourself.
There’s no way that romance can be one-size-fits-all.
It has to be based on who we are and what makes us feel good.
Make your own romance and then choose to live happily ever after.
