Sometimes, relationships can be an amazingly complex animal, but they do not have to be. There are a million relationship articles in “Cosmopolitan” or “Teen Vogue” about ways to fix or improve your relationship. Some of the advice is common sense, while others are vague or unhelpful. I can give you the best piece of relationship advice I have in my arsenal—kindness begets kindness. I know some of you are thinking, “What are you talking about?”, so let me explain.

When I was a young girl, I asked my mother about her wedding, as most young girls have an interest in those types of things. As my mother was relaying stories of the ceremony, she paused and started to get serious. She told me, “Kate, I am going to tell you something Grandma once told me at my wedding. When she told me, I thought she was crazy, but man, that old lady knew what she was talking about. Kate, kindness begets kindness. Always remember that.” This advice is something that has stuck with me for years, and I try to live by it.

No one’s relationship is perfect, but I have been in a very happy relationship for three years, and I can attest to the power of this advice. Kindness begets kindness, is when your partner is having a bad day, you buy their favorite drink and snack to cheer them up. It is when you have had a long day of traveling, and he comes to pick you up at the airport with your favorite peanut butter cups just because. From experience, when you are kind to your partner, they will be in return.

Kindness begets kindness does not take a lot of time or money, all it takes is some thought and action. This advice can apply to all types of relationships: partners, parents, and friends. Next time you are with your boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, or whomever, just be kind; it always comes back in the end.