Picture how painful it must be to see the person you love in the arms of another man or woman -- all because you took them for granted.
Even though you claim to love them, you may have recognized a tad late that you just never showed it, at least not nearly as much as you should have.
Countless people experience this painful reality each and every day, not knowing what they have until it has walked out the door for good.
In order to avoid this fate, it's important that we not just talk the talk but walk the walk as well.
It pays to spend occasional moments imagining yourself without them -- envisioning your significant other walking out the door, embracing another man or woman, and basically forgetting you ever existed.
While no relationship is perfect -- much like the people in them -- a failure to invest in it can gradually snowball into bitter arguments and corrosive resentment.
Shutting off communication is akin to depriving a plant of the water, sunlight, and nutrients it needs to thrive. The relationship will simply wilt.
If imagining your partner with someone else produces no reaction in you, it likely means you're not feeling it for them, and a serious heart-to-heart is in order. It's normal to feel at least a twinge of jealousy.
So, rather than allowing things to get so bad that your partner threatens to leave, be proactive.
Have periodic talks where you each discuss the state of the relationship as you see it. If something is bothering you, now is the time to speak up.
If you feel like you're being taken for granted, do not be afraid to articulate your feelings. If your partner says she feels you're not putting forth enough effort, discuss ways you can become more actively involved.
The bottom line is that you don't want yourself lamenting the fact that "it didn't have to be this way." It's important that each partner does his or her part to make the other feel appreciated and valued.
I see far two many relationships needlessly fall apart. Don't let yours be the next casualty!
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