10 Seemingly Unimportant Things That Make Your Relationship That Much Stronger
1. Deep Friendship. Being in a relationship means you two have a friendship that you do not have with other people. Sure, there’s your best friend. But your significant other shares with you a different kind of friendship that’s so deep, other people will not even understand. Being friends may not seem that important, but in the long run, coming home to a friend and having a shoulder to cry on is someone you will need, especially when you’re both older (and wiser).
2. Laughter. Find time to laugh with your partner and just enjoy the moment. It won’t happen very often, because of a lot of reasons, like work or other things in life, but make it a point that once in a while, you laugh about something, share something funny with each other, spend happy memories that, one of these days, you will look back to and be grateful for.
3. Tears. Of course, a relationship will not always be a happy one. There will struggles you will have to face, and as long as you face them together, you will be fine. At the end of the day, when you realize what you’ve been through and how much tears you had to cry to be where you are today, you’ll end up only getting stronger as a couple.
4. Patience. We always tend to forget that our partners are people too. They will make mistakes, they will have flaws that always get into our nerves, there will be expectations that they will not be able to meet, and there will be times when they will just be annoying AF, as simple as that. We need to remind ourselves that being patient with them is as important as loving them. You cannot be patient with every single person you meet, you’re only human. But give your partner a break. He deserves your patience too.
5. Compliments. When you’re in a long-term relationship, compliments just tend to have already been forgotten. They’re long gone, deleted, no more compliments. But once in a while, tell your partner how beautiful her hair is, or how nice she smells today. Tell him how much you love his smile or how gorgeous his eyes are. Compliments always make someone’s day, and you do want to make your partner’s day, right?
6. Romance. We tend to just live our lives, day in and day out, without ever thinking that romance is still important in a relationship, even after a few years. But it really is important, even when you’re both old and gray. Being romantic tends to be a chore to some couples nowadays considering their busy lives and all. But take time to visit your romantic side once in a while. Be it a candle-lit dinner for two at home, or a dinner date at a restaurant you’ve always wanted to check out or even a day trip at a nearby town. Nothing too fancy, but just be romantic: hold hands, kiss them whenever you can, tell them that you love them, make them feel special. It does not only nourish your love but also keeps the fire burning.
7. Compromise. We thought they were perfect, but at the end of the day, they will never be, and they can never be perfect. And we aren’t perfect either. So, what we do is we compromise. This may not seem as important to you now, but one day, you will realize that it’s also as important as accepting them as a whole. Compromise with choices. There will be times when you will disagree with something they like or believe in, but you compromise. There will be times when you will argue about certain things, but you compromise. That’s what love is.
8. Arguments. You hate arguing because you feel like it’s been going on and on, and you just can’t take it anymore. Well, to tell honestly, arguments are good for your relationship. After every argument, you come out as an even stronger couple and you’ve leveled up into another stage in your relationship. Arguments and fights will always come as you go into the relationship, and as long as you talk it out, you’ll be fine.
9. Humility. In line with arguments being important in a relationship, you should also always be humble. You do not win if you “win” an argument. This is simply because you and your partner should have the same vision as to where the relationship is going, thus, there are not winners in an argument. What you need to do is to try to put yourself in the lowest level you can reach, and just listen. You are not more powerful than your partner, nor is he or she more powerful than you. You are not in a contest, you are not fighting for a trophy or a medal. Be humble and listen.
10. Faith. As time goes by, as you get more comfortable with your partner, you tend to forget the importance of so many things, including your faith. Ask God for guidance and thank Him for blessing you with a wonderful partner in life. Prayers are important in a relationship too. Being grateful to God is as important as all these other things discussed. At the end of the day, God knows what’s in your heart and what you truly deserve. (Matthew 7:7-8 NIV) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” 