Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away? Really, where does the time go? And as you’re in the process of putting your travel arrangements and menu together, if you happen to be in a relationship this year, we thought we’d take out a moment to dedicate a piece to what Thanksgiving is ultimately all about: being thankful for all of the blessings in life.
Whether you met your significant other through a professional matchmaker, a friend or love simply and “randomly” caught you by surprise, one way to show that special someone just how grateful you are to have them in your life is to not take them for granted. Below, here are five ways to do just that.
Tell them how you feel. It really is amazing (and a bit tragic) how many relationships end up going south simply because one or both individuals assumed that their partner knew how they felt about them. The reality is that when relationship are fresh and new, there tends to be a lot more effort that is put into them. But as the old saying goes “The way you get someone is often how you are able to keep them.” It only takes a moment to send a text to say “You know, I’m so glad to have you in my life” and a Hallmark card only costs a couple of bucks. But that little bit of effort can really go a long way. Definitely make the time to tell the one you care about how you feel.
Plan dates. In relationships, there is usually one who is a bit more proactive than the other---and for the most part, that’s cool. But try and avoid getting into the habit of expecting your significant other to do all of the work when it comes to planning out your dates. By calling them up with a “surprise” every once in a while (and by that, we mean more than a couple of times per year!), it shows that you’re taking some real initiative. Plus, it also shows that they are on your mind and you want to let them know. Not only with words, but action.
Apologize. Only in toxic relationships do some people find themselves intentionally hurting the ones who they claim to care about. But in healthier ones, sometimes you can still find yourself “dropping the ball”. The problem is not so much in doing something wrong as not owning up to it. Making apologies does not only display an act of humility, but the sooner you do it, the more you show that you value the person you’re with enough to want to make corrections as soon as possible. And that’s awesome.
Acknowledge their efforts. Unfortunately, it’s kind of human nature for people to look at “the cloud” rather than the “silver lining”; especially in relationships. Being that you’re not going to get everything right all of the time, you should be willing to extend this same grace to the person you’re seeing. They are going to make mistakes sometimes, but if you see that they are trying to do better, praise them for that. Encouragement goes a lot further than discouragement does. You can take that to the bank every time.
Be available. Once a title (or at the very least a mutual decision) is put on a relationship, some people’s actions (or lack thereof) conveys that, to them, they are automatically available. Meaning, “I’m with you, so you should understand that you can call whenever. I’m just a call away.” However, the title of “boyfriend and girlfriend” or “exclusive dating” only holds real merit if you’re treating your boyfriend or girlfriend as if they are receiving exclusive treatment. So yes, when they call, they should be able to reach you but you should also call them too. When they are upset, you should be the shoulder they can cry on. When they have great news, you should be their biggest cheerleader. In short, you should be available, proactively so, in their life. It’s one of the simplest yet most profound ways to show that you do not take them for granted. Happy Thanksgiving!