One day you're going on dates with this person, not really knowing what might happen, and the next you're wondering how in the world you got so lucky. Do they really choose to put up with me every single day?

My girlfriend and I are coming up on our five-year mark and, if I'm being honest, I never really knew how far we'd make it. Let me clear that up a bit... Coming out was super scary for us, and I always questioned whether or not we'd actually have the guts to do it.

After keeping us a secret for four years, we have made so many strides in year five. The individual growth, as well as the growth in our relationship after coming out, has made it my favorite year together.

Here are my personal top five favorite characteristics of our relationship, and the top 5 I hope every person gets to experience with a significant other...

Trust

The foundation of all relationships. Trust is a funny thing...hard to earn but easy to lose.

Some give it away easier than others while some never give it away at all.

When you find a person that you can build a solid, honest relationship with, the space you've created to let other people or situations get between one another are slim to none.

Now, I'm not saying that jealousy is nonexistent or that there will never be any sort of trust issues brought on by lack of self-confidence, but the more open you can be with your significant other, the better.

Relationships are a lot more fun, calming, and long-term when trust is present.

Same interests

Everyone needs to have their own thing. Mine is writing, hers is reading.

Other than that, we do almost everything together. No, we never really get sick of one another.

We're super lucky in that way. It doesn't work for everyone but we enjoy it and like it the way it is.

We could be working, having a coffee (orrrr maybe a beer...or three), traveling, working out, spending time with friends, or enjoying a night in, and all of it is more fun when we're together.

Once in a while, it's nice to miss each other, but more than a couple days feels like hell.

To some, this may be an "unhealthy" aspect of our relationship, but it makes us happy and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Family matters

Since the day I met her, she has been family oriented.

They spend a lot of time with one another, have get-togethers often, and support each other through everything.

This is one way I know she will be good to me my entire life and I could not be more thankful for that.

Apologizing when we should

We are by no means awesome communicators (yet), but we are great apologizers.

We know what needs to be done when we mess up.

We know when we did or said something we shouldn't have.

Whether it's hormones, a long day, or just an irritation, we always know when to reel it back in.

Sometimes it tastes like word vomit, but an "I'm sorry, I was wrong for..." goes a long way.

Compromising

I think the best compromise we've created is Friday nights in and Saturday nights out.

We've got a night with time together and a night with friends.

It works out perfectly and gives each of us a chance to relax and then enjoy the weekend.

Compromising is not always easy. Sometimes it's accepting one another's request while agreeing to disagree. Sometimes it's a back and forth of give and take, but compromising is one way to get far in a relationship.

If you want to make things work, to make it last, then you each need to be willing to compromise over certain things.

There are so many other things I absolutely love about our relationship, countless amounts of things, but these are a few that I feel have gotten us the farthest and have allowed us to grow as a couple.

Leave a comment with your opinion of the most important characteristic in a relationship!