| Relationships are A LOT of hard work. And if you | | | | other's company. There are some people who get |
| haven't already been in one, you will eventually end | | | | along fabulously in a long term relationship (ie. |
| up in one...a relationship, that is. There is no hiding the | | | | Marriage) after only knowing each other a short |
| fact that most relationships end up in divorce today | | | | while. However, there is a saying that says |
| more than ever (I think the statistics are something | | | | something to the effect that if your foundation is |
| like over 50%). With divorce rates so high, some | | | | built in sand, it will never last. That being said, the |
| people may wonder, "well, what's the point of getting | | | | same is true of relationships. If your relationship is |
| married or involved seriously then anyway?" The | | | | built upon lust or some other falsity, it will never |
| truth of the matter is that any and every good | | | | withstand the storms that can sometimes rock and |
| relationship takes work; but sadly, most Americans | | | | test relationships. Take time to get to know |
| want things to be ridiculously easy and so when | | | | someone. The last thing you want to find out just |
| they're not, they simply move on. | | | | after you're married is that the other person has a |
| One of the biggest and most commonly seen | | | | ton of financial trouble or that something else more |
| mistakes that couples make when getting involved in | | | | serious is going on. By building a relationship on |
| a relationship is that they jump into it without having | | | | friendship first, you are starting out on a much more |
| been friends first. Why is being "friends" so critical to | | | | solid foundation. |
| the success of a relationship? Well, there's a saying | | | | Some studies advise that a couple should date for at |
| which states that you can't build something unless | | | | least two to three years prior to becoming engaged |
| you have a solid foundation first. For romantic, | | | | and/or married so that they have this time to get to |
| life-long relationships to survive, friendship has to be | | | | know one another. Part of the reason that a lot of |
| that solid foundation. It is during the time when two | | | | marriages don't work out is also due to the media's |
| people are friends that they get to know one | | | | portrayal of what love is. On television as well as in |
| another better and find out common likes and | | | | other media forms, love is portrayed romantically and |
| dislikes, etc. You learn to appreciate the other person | | | | or passionately only. Seldom do you see two people |
| during this time to find out whether or not you are | | | | portrayed who are enjoying one another's company. |
| compatible. Too many people jump into the romantic | | | | Instead, you see two people falling madly in love, and |
| part of relationships for the excitement and thrill, only | | | | then you cut to six months later when they are |
| to realize that after all of that has worn off, they | | | | engaged and another 6 months later where they are |
| aren't really left with much else. | | | | married. We really need to refocus our energies |
| When I first started dating my current boyfriend of | | | | when it comes to making relationships work so that |
| over 1 year, we were friends first. We shared a lot | | | | they will be healthier and longer-lasting. |
| of the same interestes and genuinely enjoyed each | | | | |