Being in a relationship in college can be one of the best things that's ever happened to you or the worst. The issue I see with a lot of college relationships is people wondering if it's really worth it or if they'd be better off being single now and worrying about love later. Honestly, it's really up to you to decide that because only you really know if you want to put in the time and effort needed to make a healthy and strong relationship that will last. But, how do you know if you should even try?
As I've mentioned before in previous articles, I have been in a relationship for a little over three years now. We made it through the last two years of high school and are now working through the first two of college. Obviously, as with any long term relationship I feel, we have had the ups and downs and have questioned whether this is all really worth it. I have recently come to the conclusion that yeah, it is. Now, let me tell you why.
I am not the type of person concerned with partying and going out all the time. I like knowing that I'll always have someone on my side and willing to go on adventures with me - even if those adventures are just to Walmart to buy cookies and Dr. Pepper. What made me realize this is that I came to the conclusion that this is what I want right now. I can't and I won't regret this later on because I have realized that I am very happy with where I am at and I see no point in changing that.
That's the biggest key to knowing if your relationship is worth fighting for: are you both happy? The next part is something that I feel is crucial to maintaining a healthy relationship and that is if you fight just to fight and find some reason to break up, or is there something to work on together? Are you arguing over small things that really hold no meaning or is there something there that you feel needs to be fixed and are you willing to fix it?
If you can honestly say that, when you argue, your intention is not to end things but to find common ground where you can grow together and fix whatever issue you are having then yeah, I think your relationship is worth fighting for. Now, if only one party sees it that way then it's time to move on. Don't waste your energy on someone who isn't willing to do the same for you.
Something else that I have realized lately, thanks to a good friend (hi friend) is that it's not healthy to have expectations of someone to behave and do exactly as you would. Just because you don't show your affection in the same way does not mean you don't love each other. For example, I like to play songs for my boyfriend that remind me of him because songs mean something to me. He would rather hangout and look at silly pictures and videos because he likes to do that by himself and for him, sharing that is his way of giving affection.
Sometimes it's easy to forget that you are two different people and with two different personalities and lives. This doesn't mean that you can't love each other just as much, it's just different. If you can both understand that then I feel that you have a relationship worth fighting for.
