Succeed in your relationship
Baggage is for travel, not relationships!
Why do we date? Why do we go through the ritual dance over and over again, accept heartbreak, spend precious time and money on a maybe? We do since at the end of the day, we all want that relationship that is right for us. The magic chemical high we get is wonderful, except you must be ready. For a relationship to suceed you have to be prepared.
Be ready to compromise: That other person may be great, everything you hoped for, beautiful, accomplished, smart, funny, the list is endless, but how does that convert into forever? Compromise. The Chinese say the mighty oak is strong and magnificent, but the palm in its ability to bend in the hurricane survives the storm. Be the palm. Hurricanes happen in relationships, no one can agree on absolutely everything. Do not compromise yourself, hold on to your principles, but know that you can not be right on every topic. Relationships are all about finding the happy middle for two people who want to exist as one.
Perception is reality: Especially in a relationship. If you disappear with your friends twice a week all night, even if i is just girls/boys night out, perception is going to become one of mistrust eventually. If you are always whispering into the phone, going into another room for every call, the person you are in a relationship is going to start to wonder. Be open, invite them along sometimes too see you just love watching silent movies and your close knit group does too, let them see it is Charlie Chaplin and popcorn, not body shots and make out sessions. Trust is not built blindly, and if it is it is not the type that a relationship can blossom under.
Be open to something new: I call this the ‘adjust to me cuz i am the princess’ portion. Too many people expect others to change for them, and most will, to a point. Relationships are meeting in the middle, if they take a step towards you, you have to be willing to do the same. The worst relationships around are where one person is constantly chasing the other. It always becomes a game of how far can I go, how long will they chase. If you enjoy riding a bike, and they pick it up for you, you might look at exploring something they enjoy. This can only build on your relationship.
Baggage is for travel, not relationships: No one can pay for the sins of others. Your Ex was a cheater? Does not mean your current is also. If you are not ready to move on beyond past transgressions, you are most likely not ready for a truly meaningful relationship. The new should wash away the old, not apologize for it. You have to be ready, or you will just chase them away.
Look inside you, you want the relationship, and relationships are work, make sure you put the work on you first, and then you are ready for that heart skipped a beat, welcoming in tomorrow, relationship.