Relationships aren’t about having another person satisfy or fulfil you.I say this often but learn to appreciate solitude. You need to be comfortable being alone, and to accept and be at peace with the person you are, in order to be healthy in relationships. Relationships are about building each other up, and appreciating each other’s uniqueness while also enjoying togetherness. It’s important that you see your partner for who they really are. We all have our shortcomings and weaknesses. When you first start dating you may be under the influence of infatuation. However, you can learn about who your partner is and what motivates them. This is accomplished by being willing to learn and grow with your partner. Instead of being defensive, or demanding your own way, take the time to understand your partner’s perspective – and, hopefully, your partner will learn from you, too. All relationships have differences and disagreements. Instead of getting defensive pay attention to the patterns of when and why you fight – which points to buried issues, to hurt and unmet needs. Finally, I encourage you to embrace the ordinary in your relationships. In time, the original excitement settles and things will feel normalized. But the day-to-day has meaning when it’s shared with those you love. Photo Photo: by Ivanna Salgado on Unsplash