Relationships take work.

Great relationships take even more work.

But they're worth it.

The more you put in,

the more you can get out.

Relationships are also a two way street.

It takes two of you to move forward.

Or only one does the work,

and burns out feeling unappreciated.

It takes honesty even when it hurts,

for the imagined may be worse.

It takes understanding;

attempts to understand and

help to make one understand.

It takes agreeing to disagree

rather than having to always win

thereby creating a loser.

It takes respect.

Respect for self so that one doesn't lose

too much of oneself and have nothing to give.

Respect for the other

so that one tries to accomodate,

compromise, and please.

It takes choosing to love

in spite of little things that irriatate

or things we don't agree with.

True love begins when the lust wears off

and we choose to stay

and we choose to do

because we want to.