Key Ingredients To A Lasting Relationship!

Respect, self-worth, and communication will be on my list of priorities for having a lasting relationship, and this the most difficult and challenging yet wonderful act of humankind.
Unlike the old days, only a few last to celebrate their fiftieth or sixtieth wedding anniversaries. Lack of communication, having less self-esteem, and not being able to respect one another plays a big role in keeping a relationship alive. A relationship is a partnership, a business deal, that gives and takes. If one fails to offer but only takes, that partnership will not last. Relationships begin with different values, and the first attractions are foolish of all and hold no promises to a lasting company. Two people are never alike. Each individual has his or her qualities, behaviors, and beliefs. Therefore, both parties must learn to accept one another for who they are, along with each other’s weaknesses and strengths. A foundation built with respect, self-worth as strength, connected through an open communication line, can guide you to a lasting relationship that may transform to true love.

Respect is the main ingredient to a lasting relationship, and it means to respect yourself, to accept who you are and to be proud of it. Once you have that confidence in yourself, nothing or no one could take it away from you. Just the same, you will not disrespect another. I was attracted to my partner for the way he treated me with respect. He believed in me when I doubted myself. Trusted me to make my own rules and gave me space to live my life. He demanded nothing and didn’t pressure me to comply with his needs. I felt no fear or reason to doubt him. Appreciation turned to respect and trust. We fell in love without demands, boundaries, or limits but with assurance. Thirty-eight years later, we are still together, profoundly connected, and without reason. What makes things beautiful and lasting is the freedom we give to one another by respecting our needs and trusting in each other.

Having no self-worth is poison to a relationship. There was a time I had felt unworthy and hated the world for my mistakes. I began to slip away from my family and friends. I saw my partner as an intruder, my children as a burden, and I felt no interest in anything. My achievements held no credits, and my talents had no chance. The amazing part though was my partner didn’t give up on me. He didn’t pity me, or let me be but tried to understand me. By offering the freedom to choose my happiness, he gave me back the value and brought me back to life. Since then, I have grown in many ways. Lead a fruitful life sharing my wisdom with other women who needs the same support. When one feels less worthy, it will eat him/her up alive and will destroy everything that she/he holds dear.

Thirty-eight years was a long time for two people to be in a relationship. The years had taken us through many trials, disappointments, and troubles, but we survived them all because we had a good channel of communication.
No matter how mad or frustrated we were with each other, we took the time to discuss it and find a solution. We agreed to be open, truthful about how we felt, even if it hurts. Without communication, we cannot clear up any misunderstanding, and one will make the wrong decisions, makes the wrong choice. The only way to avoid this was to confront our feelings, discuss, and argue if necessary. By having a good line of communication, issues can get resolved with less disruption.

Bea