When a Relationship
is Worth Keeping
When a Relationship is Worth Keeping
From here, we’ll assume you have found a relationship worth keeping
...one you are comfortable with, and which you want to continue into the
long-term. Having found your relationship, this is not where the work
ends; it’s where it continues.
Don't expect that to stop because as your love relationship grows and
evolves, change is required to stay in harmony with each other.
A relationship is like any living thing ...
You can’t just plant it and leave it alone.
It requires ongoing nourishment,
care, and attention.
When someone plans a trip, they establish a destination, plan an
itinerary, pack the appropriate gear, make their way to the terminal
purchase a ticket, then sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip -- watching the
scenery pass by, reading a book or sleeping, being catered to by
attentive stewards throughout.
Being in a relationship is different, of course. Once you’ve boarded for
the `trip’, you must continue the planning and effort. It’s a ‘working trip’
where you play an integral part in reaching your destination. If you don’t,
there’s every possibility you will find yourself ‘dropped off’ at some
unknown port of call along the way. All your original planning and effort
wasted -- on your own to start making new plans just when you thought
you could relax and enjoy the ride.
Who needs the frustration, disruption, delay, or loneliness in some place
they didn’t expect or want to be in? I doubt anyone does, but it is just
where you are likely to be if you allow yourself to fall into a `comfort
zone’.
A "comfort zone" is a self inflicted rut; occurring primarily because
humans have a tendency to become complacent, & take each other for
granted. The ‘trick’ is to take something which would normally be routine
or mundane, and dress it up a little to let your partner know, subtly, that
you were thinking of him or her when you did whatever it was -- not just
doing it because it had to be done.
Most often it’s not an intentional thing. It’s a variation of the old adage
which says; "familiarity breeds contempt". In this case it should be read
as "familiarity breeds complacency". The only way there is to avoid
finding yourself in this rut is to continue putting effort into your
relationship. At this juncture, let’s clarify that we’re not referring
specifically to the type of effort put into household chores, or into an
occupation; although those are part of it. Instead, we’re speaking of
putting effort into your partner, and the quality of the relationship overall.
The best way to do this is by keeping romance alive and consistent.
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