What makes love last...

Now I can't claim to be any relationship expert but I thought I would share some of the things I think can help 'make love work'. No relationship is easy and no relationship is perfect, anyone who claims this is so...is lying! Sorry but there is always going to be something that you may find annoying about the other person but when you love someone then it's all about the c word...compromise! 

Having been in a relationship for nearly 6 years, I have discovered along the way all the things that make it work for us and how we're able to maintain such a strong and lasting love which still feels as fresh and exciting as it did all those years ago. I genuinely believe relationships can only work if you are purely yourself. I never pretend to be anything I'm not and never have done and if you find yourself doing that to impress someone else then it's bound to be a failure sooner or later.

Laugh until it hurts

Sharing laughs and funny 'in jokes' is something I believe creates a real special and unique bond. I don't think it neccessarily matters if you find different things funny but having something that you can mutually laugh about it is really important. I don't think I have ever had a day in the last 6 years where we haven't laughed about something completely silly.

Be open

Some may disagree and think that some things are better left unsaid but I think being open with your partner, about all your emotional baggage (everyone has some) makes relationships work because you know from the outset (I'm not talking after a few weeks, maybe a few months) all about the other person. It is a real weight off the shoulders and means that once it's all out of the way, you can just have fun in your relationship without anything on your mind.


Remember that things change

I think it's also important to realise that things change in a relationships-people get new jobs, meet new people...I think you always need to be supportive of the other person, even if it's not something you may neccessarily agree with or want. 

 Be honest about jealousy but don't let it take over

Everyone gets jealous-fact. Especially us girlies and I openly put my hands up and say I have felt it many a time but the point is, I never make it a big thing and I think that it can become a problem if you do. If you are honest that you feel jealous from the outset then more often than not, it gets sorted and you are made to feel reassured about things and you feel silly for being jealous to start with!

Always make time to do something together and make memories

I think one of the most important things that makes relationships work is quality time spent together whether it's just watching a DVD and getting a takeaway or going away for a few days-it doesn't have to cost a lot but what you get out of it is something completely out of routine from the 'norm' and makes things feel a bit more exciting!

 

Have your own life

This would be top of my list-it's so important to have your own life in a relationship and whilst I love being so close to my boyfriend, I also like having my own job, friends, hobbies etc because it's my own thing and I can still talk to him about it all the time but it's something for me. Never ever change for anyone else but for yourself.

There are many more things but these are the things I think really make love last, again I am not expert but I certainly am very happy :) xoxo