What Love Shouldn’t Be

Hello my dear friends!

It’s been a busy couple of months and I am once again getting back into the blogging routine! Hoping to do more posts this summer (food blog perhaps?).

This post is inspired by a couple of conversations and blog posts I’ve encountered lately surrounding the topic of love and romantic relationships. Most of them from one of my favourites Thought Catalog. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading their daily posts, but one thing I’ve noticed with many of these love or relationship-focused posts is the depressing and negative themes. Heartbreaks, infidelity, arguments, silent breakups, one party (or both) stops caring, the list can go on. But these things shouldn’t make up the term ‘love’, nor is it love, it’s called a headache.

As someone that is still in her early 20’s, I know I haven’t experienced enough to call myself an ‘expert’, but here are some of my thoughts and learnings over the past years.

What ‘Love’ Should Be

1. Your partner should always inspire you to want to do better

Some of the best relationships are when you both inspire each other to be the best versions of yourselves and aim to have bigger goals in life. You learn from each other, and grow as a couple, but also as an individual.

2. Taking turns being each other’s support 

As your relationship progresses, the unexpected is going to happen. This is when both of you need to be ready to take a supporter role when it does happen. Whether it is a transition in life or supporting your partner in achieving their goals + aspirations, some of the best relationships is when both parties are ready for this role.

3. Taking a step back from time to time and reflect on why you fell in love with them in the first place

We are often so caught up in the things our partner is doing poorly, that we forget why we fell in love with them in the first place. Is your partner sometimes forgetful? Why not focus on the wit and intellect that you fell in love with in the beginning?

4. Realizing that they are not perfect (and never will be), and still loving them

I can’t stress this enough. No one is perfect, no relationship is perfect. Instead of dwelling about the imperfections, if it is nothing major, realize that these are the characteristics that make up your partner.

5. Taking a break from the relationship is ok

Part of being in love with someone is knowing when space and a break is needed, and being comfortable with it.  Truly being in love with someone does not require seeing or talking to them everyday, and giving them that space because you know in the end, it will only make the relationship better. You both should be content as individuals first.