There are countless types of relationships we experience in life - friendships, professional bonds, family ties - but one stands apart in its complexity, its beauty, and its challenges: the romantic relationship. Of all the connections we form, this is the one I find most intricate, often uniquely unsolvable, and endlessly puzzling.
Over the years, I’ve been through many relationships. But each one, successful or not, has taught me something new. Failures, in particular, have been valuable teachers, offering lessons I hold close. Today, I want to share the one insight that has shaped my perspective the most.
A relationship isn’t about expecting someone to meet my needs. It’s about learning how to empty myself to meet theirs. When both partners approach each other with this mindset - each focused on giving instead of taking - they create something deeper. They begin to truly treasure each other’s time and presence, building a connection that feels irreplaceable.
Marriage and long-term relationships, I believe, aren’t about finding the perfect person to complete me. Instead, they’re about finding someone whose needs I want to fill, whose happiness and well-being become a priority. This shift in perspective transforms the relationship into something more valuable, something built on mutual care rather than mutual consumption.
In this approach, the time spent together becomes more meaningful, not because of what is received, but because of what is freely given. And in that giving, something truly profound is found.