I know it's cliché to say this, but my boyfriend is my best friend. There is never a day where we aren't laughing hysterically at our own jokes. I have always loved a good pun, and when I learned he could return them with just as much wit, I was pretty sold. I have had my fair share of love problems, and finally finding someone right was like a breath of fresh air. Over the course of dating my "bae," I learned what made the relationship so different from all the ones before, and I learned what makes things end up finally feeling right. Here are just five things that helped me realize my boo thang was a cut above the rest:
1. You have the same sense of humor.
Everyone already knows that laughter is the best medicine, but it can also lead to a great amount of love. When you can giggle the day away just being your own goofy self, there's freedom in that. You never have to fear that you're too weird, because your partner is just as weird as you are. People may look send glaces your way when you're both laughing away at your own inside jokes, but hey, they just don't understand the hilarity. You've got endless jokes to share for life, even if they're just silly puns or weirdly just shouting "Caaaaaaaaaaarl."
2. You don't care what each other looks like.
When you start to get comfortable in a relationship, looks don't necessarily matter that much. Your partner will still love you whether you're looking like a zombie when you're sick or when you're all dolled up for a date. You can both feel comfortable just sitting around in baggy sweatpants as the day goes by. There isn't pressure to look a certain way.
So, whether you look like this:
Or this:
It really doesn't matter. No love is lost. (And actually, I personally would be so excited about taking a photo like the one with cats. Amazing. Iconic.)
3. You want the same adventures in life.
Whether it be venturing our and exploring the world or just heading out to an amusement park near town, you're both in it together. You could spend hours planning the adventures you want to have in the future and cannot wait for when those days finally come. And really, your ideas don't technically have to be the same. Compromise is key, like how I want to go to Paris and sight see, and how my boyfriend wants to go on a jungle adventure in the middle of nowhere. It is a give and take. But adventure doesn't have to just mean traveling. You have the same ideas for a future family or a future house. You both have an understanding of where you want life to take you. You're like Ellie and Carl from Up (aka the most beautiful animated couple of all time).
4. You have complete trust in each other.
It's important that you have complete faith in the person you're dating. Nobody wants to be constantly on edge wondering if they're really loved or not. But with the right person, you never have to worry about them falling for a different person. You can rest easy knowing that you are the only person in their sights. You don't have to worry about competing against anyone else. In this era, so many people constantly talk about side hoes or having people "on hold" that it can be scary to try to get into a relationship. But when you've finally found that right person, you know you're the only one. *Cue The Notebook*
5. Your family loves them, and their family loves you.
(Disclaimer: This may not be a requirement for some people, but this is of major importance for me.) There would be nothing worse than having to go to all family holidays knowing that people didn't like you there. Having to sit through a meal all the while getting the death stare from somewhere down the table is just not very appealing. Having the comfort that your family loves your partner (and the inverse) is wonderful. Seeing them able to chime in on the jokes and smack talk around holiday time is honestly fun. For me, it was like introducing my two favorite worlds, and seeing them click was a breath of relief. There's no Romeo and Juliet happening around here. And it's good to know if your partner can handle the craziness.
There are so many signs that can help you to realize that you've finally got a good one in your life, but these are just a few! What helped you decide?
