ontheedgeofeverything

I strongly feel as though the depiction of long-term relationships in contemporary society is a wee bit inaccurate.

Okay, not a wee bit. A lot. It’s a lot a bit inaccurate.

And, in addition to being inaccurate, add misleading to the list.

It’s important to note that not all current-day portrayals of long-term relationships are unreliable. It’s also important to recognize the fact that relationships are entirely subjective, and their nature varies depending on the two people involved. But, in my own opinion, the reality of long-term relationships often fails to be properly represented via media, and I think it’s worth discussing.

I’ve been with my boyfriend for five and a half years. It’s actually closer to six years if we’re being technical, but you get the idea.

Blaine and I have been through a lot together. We’ve experienced highs and lows, good times and not so good times. We’ve had our fair share of disagreements and arguments, and at times, we’ve been unsure of what exactly the future holds for us, amongst a million other unknowns. But we’re still together, and we’re stronger together because of what we have experienced.

Long-term relationships take work. They require time, effort, sacrifice, support, compassion, understanding, sympathy, empathy, patience, forgiveness, and cooperation. They’re challenging and trying, but they’re also completely and totally worth it.

I suppose what I’m trying to communicate through this jumbled ramble is that long-term relations aren’t a walk in the park. But they shouldn’t be a battle, either. I like to think of them as a sort of investment, if you will; you get what you put into it. They undoubtedly take work, but if you’re with the right person, it shouldn’t take work all of the time. When you’re with someone for a long time, it’s easy to lose sight of what brought you together in the first place. Remind yourself of what you value in your partner when things get tough, and keep that in mind no matter how long you’re with them.