When you date someone, you expect it to last forever... and when it ends, it can be absolutely devastating. Instead of grieving over an ended relationship, we can all learn a few lessons and preferences for the next one. After all, we are only ever one more heart break closer to forever.
1. When someone tells you they cannot ever love you, believe them.
They aren't kidding you or themselves.
2. Do not ever let someone make you feel like you are not enough.
You will always be enough. However, some people don't like or need your taste in their mouth, and that's OK too.
3. He should walk on the outside of the sidewalk, open your car door and at least offer to help you carry your things.
Being a gentleman never went out of style. Watch to see if he has empathy and compassion for those around him.
4. Do not let someone compare you to their ex. For any reason.
Do not let someone constantly compare you to an ex. If they do this, they are obviously still hung up on their past and you don't need that.
5. If you don't want your mother to meet him or her, ask yourself if you should be dating them.
Why would you date someone you aren't excited to bring home to your family?
6. If your gut tells you they aren't the one, listen.
I was washing dishes one day and out of the blue, my inner self told me, "he isn't the one," and all I did was turn the faucet on higher to try and drown it out. Your gut is almost always right.
7. It is not romantic to have to convince someone to love you every day.
It's exhausting and unfair — you should not have to sell yourself to someone every single day.
8. Fighting for your relationship should not and does not equal begging someone to stay with you.
Fighting for your relationship means overcoming hurdles in your path, together. Not begging someone to not walk out of the door and leave.
9. You cannot change someone who does not want to change.
People are set in their ways, and unless they want to change, they won't.
10. You will not be different.
You will not be "the one" to make them love again, to stop smoking, etc. Only they can do those things.
11. You cannot take on all of someone else's emotional baggage.
Helping someone and being a shoulder to lean on is different than carrying the weight of their world.
12. You should not cry more than you smile.
Unless you're crying from laughing.
13. No one should ever make you hate yourself.
You should love yourself with all of your might and the moment someone makes you start to question that... drop them.
14. Fall in love with your best friend.
Forever is a long time to spend with someone who isn't your best friend.
15. If he or she doesn't want you around their friends or family, leave.
Why would you want to be with someone who has no interest in letting you be apart of the personal aspects of their life?
16. Accept someone's flaws, but do not make excuses for them.
Accepting that someone is a smoker is one thing, but trying to make excuses for a nasty habit is a whole new ball game.
17. Words without action are extremely cheap.
"I'm sorry" can only be said so many times for the same reason before its meaning is bankrupt.
18. Put your phone away.
Do not stay glued to your screen while you are with them, do not pump up your relationship to be more than it is on social media, do not vent your problems on social media either. Talk. To. Them. Spend your time with them actually with them.
19. Treat every day like the first.
The little things are what won them over; don't get comfortable, because once you slack off, it becomes noticeable and will make your significant other wonder what they did or why you don't do "the little things" anymore.
20. Never settle.
Enough said.
