Four years today I have been in love with my better half Bradley. We got together at 16 and some how managed to fight through into adulthood together. We’ve been living together for around 2 years now and I honestly couldn’t have dreamt my life to start out any better.
Neither of us have experienced that ‘teenage-goingout-sleepingaround-party’ lifestyle that a majority of 20 year olds have. Since day one we’ve been joined at the hip and been inseparable, and usually referred to as an old married couple. But things aren’t always so breezy, we do fall out and we do fight, but at the end of everyday we still fall asleep in each others arms, which makes everything worth it.
Patience is key. You’ve got to remember that your other half isn’t you. They don’t think the same way you do, they don’t process feelings in the same way you do and they don’t show emotions in the same way you do. If there is anything I’ve learnt its that you can’t expect someone to provide the same outcome of emotions like you. I love writing Bradley letters, I will always fill up both sides of a birthday card, and I will talk about my feelings all day long. But he just isn’t built like that, i’m lucky if he remembers to write my name on the card (its happened!) He shows his love and emotions in other ways, and it took me a long time to recognize these actions as I just wasn’t use to them. So getting frustrated because your partner won’t write you a letter and forgets it’s your 2 years and 4 months anniversary is not the way to go about it.
Bradley is built to care for others, he does everything he possibly can to get us the things we want. Working long days for little pay, so that our weekends can be filled with joy. He loves to provide and loves too see me smile.
Compromise plays a huge part in any relationship. You can’t always have your own way. Sometimes you’ve got to do things you don’t want to do and vice-versa. In a pile of 22 letters 1 is addressed to me, the other 21 are to Bradley. Because he knew I really wanted a letter so he goddamn tried his hardest to write me one, and that compromise means so much more to me than the meaning of the letter in the first place.
Once you’ve found some one who understands you for every little piece you are, who loves every single cell in your body and who will go to earths end to see you smile, you can then see the rest of your life fall into place.
totally agree with you! relationships are all about compromise because each human has a different personality and character and no one is perfect so if you found the one who loves you with your pros and cons, you are lucky and try to make the relationship work <3 http://www.elenaslifestyle.com
Yes, you're absolutely right! Making a relationship work through the bad times really does create a stronger couple, who can then battle through anything! xxx
What a lovely post, Caitlin! I could not agree more – it is so important to have patience and compromise in a healthy relationship. The relationship as a whole must always triumph over either person's individual needs – that is what love has always been about, no? Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. <3
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