They end because one or both partners fail to invest the time, energy, and effort to sustain them.
They put everything before the relationship -- work, chores, kids, hobbies -- and are then left wondering why things took such a bad turn.
A relationship can't maintain itself. Just because you've been with someone for 20 years, share the same interests, or you're convinced nothing could ever tear you apart doesn't mean it can't go down the tubes.
If both partners aren't actively contributing to the relationship, they can drift apart in no time, potentially opening the door to drinking, depression, cheating, and other circumstances that can put the relationship on a downward spiral from which it may never recover.
On the flip side, those who genuinely want the relationship to remain strong never cease doing the little things -- the love notes/texts, a surprise dinner here and there, a kiss upon waking up and before going to sleep. They want to make each other feel special because they value their bond wholeheartedly.
To be sure, we all have our "off days" where romance may be shunted aside a bit, and that's understandable. But if the relationship constantly takes a back seat to everything else going on in your life, it's headed down the road to ruin unless partners take action.
Along with trust, respect, loyalty, and honesty, communication is the cornerstone of a healthy relationship. Partners must address whatever they feel is plaguing the relationship, whether it be that too much time is spent at work or that they never do anything spontaneous anymore.
In order to forge a healthy emotional connection, both individuals must refrain from judging or casting blame on each other. Instead, they should strive to see things from the other's perspective. Though they may not agree on everything, it's likely they can concede at least a few points the other is making.
If a relationship is to survive -- let alone thrive -- both partners' egos have to be checked at the door. A conciliatory approach isn't feasible if they're always trying to prove that they're right and the other person isn't.
When you're in a relationship, the two of you are a team. You're in it to work through problems together, not to see who can outlast the other in verbal combat.
Finally, when someone says their relationship simply "didn't work out," chances are that one or both people didn't apply sufficient time and energy into it. Sometimes it ends up being for the best, but in other cases people don't realize what they had until it's too late.
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