What it means to be a partner.

Gary and I have been together for six years now, so I'd like to think I know a thing or two about long-term relationships by now.

It's not always sunshine and rainbows, it's a lot of work to maintain a healthy and happy relationship.

You need to find a balance between who you are together and who you are outside of that. 

Your partner should be there for you when you need them, but also push you beyond what you think you're capable of. 

I'm also not the biggest fan of the word partner, but boyfriend also sounds a bit too juvenile, and I haven't been able to find anything else to refer to Gary as aside from 'Gary' or 'Gare-bear'

There are going to be times when you question a lot of things about your relationship—the highs and lows are real, that's for sure and completely unavoidable just like any hiccups life throws your way. 

What I find the real differentiators are between what I have now and what I've had in the past is the foundation of any successful relationship:

You must trust your partner.

You also need passion.

You need to connect and keep in contact with your partner.

I'm so fortunate to have found all of this in Gary—but as I said, it isn't always easy, you have to work on your relationship and be self-aware enough to acknowledge if one of these fundamentals isn't being met.

♥ ♥ ♥