Life is too short to spend it with someone who doesn’t make you feel happy to be alive.
Live, laugh, love is a cute statement that we see all the time on everything from T-shirts to coffee mugs to doormats. But not enough people take the time to fully absorb this mantra. In the world we live in, dysfunctional relationships are becoming more normalized and in some cases, even idolized. It’s not just viewed as standard for couple to argue all the time and display toxic jealousy and controlling behaviours. Many people actually believe that this is what love should look like. Many modern relationships are no longer about healthy love, common values, and compatibility, but about who you can tolerate living with while bickering almost all the time.
But what would happen if one of our top priorities in a relationship was someone who makes us laugh, or someone who puts our mind at ease? What if the test of a healthy relationship was whether or not your partner made you smile at the beginning and end of each day, nearly every single day? Many relationships would not pass this very simple test of being peaceful and harmonious. For many of us, particularly women, our standards are so low that (assuming we have a list), kindness doesn’t even make the list of qualities that we would want in a partner. Either we don’t think that it’s important enough, or don’t think that it’s possible. If that’s you, then I’m here to say, without reservation, that you are absolutely wrong on both accounts.
Imagine what you’re ideal partner would be like. Not just looks; save that for later. Imagine what your idea partner’s character would be like; their values, their goals, and most importantly how you would want them to treat you. If you’re in a relationship and you’re not getting that from your current partner, ask yourself: How much time do I have left, and why am I wasting so much of it being unhappy?
