It's something we've all been through, maybe only once and maybe a thousand times. You may not have gone through each stage and maybe you have gone through all of the stages and are happy to stay. If you haven't figured it out by the title and my brief description, I'm talking about the stages of crushing all the way into love. Enjoy some past memories and think of each person you've fallen for by following my stages of love.
Stage One: Someone Catches Your Eye
We go places all the time. Whether that be every day at school, going out to eat, or going to work every day, we see people. Some of these people we think look silly and other's are cute. Let's say you go to school every day but on this one day you notice someone particularly more attractive than everyone around you. You spend the rest of that day staring at that person, thinking of them, or accidentally bumping into them in every hallway. This is the first stage for that person, they caught your eye and you just can't let them go.
Stage Two: Their Personality and Actions Attract You
You're liking the way they look and you've decided you want to learn about the person behind those good looks. You start talking to your friends or even following them around (without stalking) to get to know them better. You like what you find and then next thing you know you're crushing and crushing hard.
Stage Three: You're Crushing
You've stalked them enough, or maybe not enough, you know a lot about them and it's official, you're crushing. A crush is a serious infatuation with a person, don't worry, you're not obsessing. They're all you think about and all you want to talk about. It's time for you to break out of the shadows and be a part of their lives.
Stage Four: You Become Friends
It's time for the next step of your top secret operations, for you to become friends. Now, friends can mean a million things for people. It can be getting pizza or watching movies or it can be cuddling and talking about life. Either way, this is where you get to know each other on a deeper level and where you get close. You seem to like this person but now you need to see if you truly like them and if they like you back.
Stage Six: You Start Dating
You've made it, you're dating now. Maybe it took a little while but your efforts have finally paid off and it is time for your partner to give you a true chance at being the best part of their life. There may be fights and doubts but don't forget you'll still be getting to know each other. Going from being friends into a relationship can seem like a weird transition or it can leave you wondering why it had to take so long. Either way, your anniversaries are your new milestones.
Stage Seven: It Goes A Year
This is it, the first big relationship milestone. The first year of you and your partner being together. Most people start a month being a milestone or every month being milestone, I think the first year is most important. The monthly milestones are something I like to keep to myself. However, good on you two! It takes time and effort to keep it this far.
Stage Eight: Year Two
Okay, okay... Maybe two years isn't a big deal for some but I think it's huge. A lot of relationships seem to end somewhere between the year and a half mark and the two year mark. I think if you can make it past year two then it's safe to start thinking of future plans.
Stage Nine: Years Three and Up
You've made it into your third year and you both are ready for many more. At this point, I think it safe to say you guys can move in together. You have my full blessing and hopefully all of your family's blessings to stay together forever. This is the final stage before it's time for you to tie the knot.
Stage Ten: Until Death Do You Part
I think this is the rarest stage for every couple to reach. Marriage, we may all get it but it's keeping it that is truly spectacular to me. I know a few couples that have been married for 60-70 years. That is true love to me, to be able to never want to leave someone and to grow with them until death do you part.
This is just my ideal list of what my forever relationship will end up like. Like every person, I have my fairytale prince and I've gone through my own times of heartbreak. I believe everyone has a match, so if you're ever lonely, don't give up hope.
