" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

These words have always stuck in my mind when I think of love. I couldn't tell you where I first heard them, but I know they're from the Bible (1 Corinthians 13:4). I like to think that I always understood how tough love was, but I never really grasped it until I fell in love. You see these movies and social media posts that depict only the good and happy parts of relationships. No one ever boasts about the bad times. You get this idea that he will always make the right decisions, he will always be attentive, and that he will always be perfect.

However, no one is perfect. Your significant other can be perfect for you but they will always make mistakes, everyone does. There will be times where you want to rip his head off because he's so annoying and times where you want to scream your heart out because he's hurt you so bad. But you learn to forgive him. And he learns to forgive you.

One of the biggest questions that everyone has regarding relationships is: what makes a good relationship? The answer is communication.

When I first started dating I thought my boyfriend was supposed to read my mind and always have the right answers. He was supposed to be able to guess what I was thinking and never make a mistake. That's a very immature way of thinking, but back then I was also immature. I've learned that he can't read my mind and he can't take hints. If something hurts my feelings, I have to say, "That hurts my feelings and here's why." I can't sit and pout and wait for him to guess why I'm upset and then be mad because he did it in the first place. He doesn't know every part of you yet, he's still learning.

But if he truly loves you and you love him, he will remember it made you upset and he will try to never do it again. That's not saying he won't slip up and do it again anyway, but he's trying. Always remember that, no matter how hard times get: he is trying.

Love is not perfect, it's not always sunshine and rainbows and laughing. There's sadness and anger, but forgiveness will allow you and your significant other to work through almost anything.