I’m no love guru or relationship major or anything, but I do certainly know a few things.

You see articles on what guys need to be happy, how to treat a guy, etc. But what about us? I mean, after all, the majority of the people writing these articles ARE females, after all. It’s totally okay, too, to mention the things you want and need in a relationship to be happy! I think it’s necessary for any female to be able to pinpoint what she believes she needs to be happy. While these are completely opinionated, these are the things I think every female needs to be happy in a relationship.

1. Reassurance.

I mean, I don’t know about you, but I tend to overthink… a lot. I trust my boyfriend with my life, I do, but after being cheated on before, I get nasty thoughts sometimes that I just can’t help. So, I may send a text out of nowhere just to get some reassurance. Whether it’s “I love you” just to see “I love you” back, or asking questions. Now, I never get too nosy, but even if I did, my boyfriend would probably never have a problem answering any question I have just to make sure I feel comfortable. If he’s going out with a bunch of strange girls I don’t know, he has the decency to tell me. No, that doesn’t mean I don’t trust him either (supposedly that’s a big ordeal on Facebook right now) but it’s just simple communication. It’s having respect for your relationship and your girlfriend and nothing more or less.

2. Compassion

Sometimes, I get really upset and cry for no reason. Sounds goofy at first, but if you knew I suffered from anxiety, maybe you’d nod and think, “Ohhh, okay”. So, yeah, it’s helpful to have your guy there just to put his arm around you and tell you that everything will be okay. I’ve had guys in the past get REALLY mad at me for being sad at times, not that it happens often, but they felt it was their fault and no matter how much I told them otherwise, it just turned into a conversation of, “Well, just be happy. You have so much to be happy for.” This is a very vivid example, of course, because compassion can be used and shown in many ways.

3. Love… a lot of it.

Love is everywhere. I love my friends, my family, my pets, all sorts of people and things. I love a lot. Everyone loves something, multiple things even. But the one thing that a man should do more than all of those things, family, friends, pets… is love a little extra. I mean, family you are born into. You don’t get to choose your family, you may choose your pets and friends, but those both come and go. Your guy will be there forever. For you. So, as you love him more than anything, he should love you in return. You will know if he does, if you are skeptical, he just may not.

4. Adventure

Physically and mentally, adventure is a beautiful thing. Life is always changing and it’s too damn short to just stay bounded to certain ideas, places, etc. To be happy, you and your guy need a sense of adventure. I’ve always been afraid that my guy will get bored with me, so keeping an open mind to adventure seems like a great remedy to be sure that never happens. (Not that I think it would, but look how often it happens around us). So, go somewhere new, try things as often as you can, be open to each others wants and needs and wishes. Maybe make a bucket list together.

5. Attention

Now, I don’t mean let’s wrap our legs around our boyfriends ankles and just bother him and expect his attention undivided 24/7. I mean, make sure you listen to her, understand her, have genuine conversations. Give her the type of attention that shows her you actually care about her and the things she deals with every day. When my boyfriend asks me about the conversation I had yesterday with so and so, it lets me know he remembers that I mentioned it to him, and that he cares how it went. Even just making sure he spends time with you is important. It’s nice sometimes to be invited out with his friends, not that he can’t go alone, but it’s nice every once in awhile.