I’m going to ask you some questions that may sound silly, but I want you to think about them anyway. I believe they are worthwhile to contemplate. Please put down the book after reading the questions and ponder them for a while before you start reading again.
- What is a couple’s relationship for?
- What is its purpose?
- What are its rewards?
- What does each partner hope to receive from the relationship?
- Why are you in a relationship or want to be in one?
- What are you receiving now or what do you hope to get out of a relationship in the future?
Alice and I have thought about these questions. Our answers might echo those of every loving couple.
We enjoy each other. We got together in the first place because it feels good to be around each other. We laugh a lot and have fun doing exciting things and we delight in simply being together.
We share life’s burdens. Our life is so much easier and more manageable when we have a helpmate who nurtures us, helps us carry our load when we can’t do it alone, and comforts us when we are down. Even the simple act of making our bed is so much easier with two rather than one.
We grow together. The experience of living with this other being who has different interests, tastes, habits, and perspectives, helps us to grow. It enlarges our minds, challenges us, opens our hearts, and expands our universe. We elevate each other through our differences. In the process, we discover who we really are.
We learn to love. By enjoying each other, sharing life’s burdens, and growing together, our caring for each other deepens. We discover what love truly is and we learn how to give of ourselves with caring and generosity. That education is the most important thing that life has to teach us.
We expand our love through sharing it with others. We bring our love for each other out into the world and share it with family, friends, co-workers, and everyone we meet. In doing so, not only do we bestow our love on others, but our own heart expands and heals.
These are reasons why Alice and I are together and are what keeps our relationship alive and well. What are your reasons for being in a relationship or wanting to be in one?
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This post is republished on Agents of Change on Medium.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock
