While a relationship has the potential to be many things and filled with many things, it can also be an incredible learning experience-about yourself and what you want as well as learning about the other person that you're with.

My last relationship occurred during a time in my life when I was emotionally naive and truly didn't know what a relationship entailed, what I wanted in a relationship or what I had to offer (other than my enormous amounts of mistakenly flirty sass).

This experience in my life is definitely responsible (if only in part) for the growth in emotional maturity that I have gained over the years, and I hope to bestow some of that learned information on you today. I hope that you are able to take something from this without any hurt or heartache that it might otherwise take to learn these things.

Of course being in a relationship is fun (that's basically the point). You get to spend time with someone that you choose because of a liking that you have for that person.You get to experience new things together and have someone to be there with you through the things that you already enjoy.

A relationship gives you an equal partner that compliments the best in you and encourages change in the worst in you. But with that also comes the fact that a relationship is made up of two different people who spend time figuring each other out. Relationships also don't occur in a bubble, contrary to what "The Bachelor" depicts.

With that comes the fact that two people are having to figure out their lives around two separate schedules and lifestyles, which takes work on both people's part. In the end it all comes down to having a balance between the work that you put into a relationship and the joy that comes out of being part of one.

If there's any one thing that I've learned and wish that I could highlight, put in bold font and pass along, it's this: LIFE IS SHORT.

You don't always get to spend your life with someone just because you love them and care about them, and that's a sad fact. Sometimes things just don't work out no matter how much you want them to. Looking back on it all if there was one thing that I would do differently it would be to cherish and enjoy each moment.

When you keep in mind just how short life and love truly can be it puts you into the mindset to do more, forgive quicker, and love harder.

Rather than arguing over things that won't matter in a week or even a few days and trying to attain the perfect relationship, wouldn't it be better to laugh or cry and hug it out instead? Wouldn't you rather have days spent out exploring together or nights cuddled up watching dumb Netflix shows instead?

No matter where you're at in your relationship or single life it's worth enjoying and giving to wholehearted; or not at all. You have so much to offer; you are the prize.