Relationships are challenging. We have to go through several
required steps, stages, or layers to get to the best part. I hear some of you
thinking love at first sight, and a variety of scenarios that allow the
skipping of layers. As a professional, I can't say this, but as me, I must say
you are wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Now that that has been established, let's move on to
required layers. Note that many relationship tragedies could be avoided if
people would just adhere to the layers. I like layers or stages best because
they don't always have to be in this order, but like an onion, love is best for
you when peeled correctly. You can always skip the preliminaries and cut right
to the center, but you'll end up in tears.
Each layer is necessary at some point to some degree. I'll
list them here and talk about each one later. For the sake of this article and
my sanity, I'll call our two people Adam and Eve. Creative, huh?
. Something identifiable from the outside attracts (either
initially or later on) Adam to Eve or Eve to Adam, hopefully both, but it
doesn't require both until later. Often physical, but certainly not always. For
me it's usually compassion and intelligence (really!).
2. Situations occur (naturally or not) allowing Adam and Eve
to communicate (physical proximity is not always necessary for a time). For
instance, Adam could end up working on a campaign with Eve (natural), or Eve
could keep showing up in front of or behind Adam's house in lingerie (probably
not).
3. Attraction grows (from Adam's, Eve's, or both
individuals' perspectives). Best if mutual, but still not necessary yet. This
is the turning point, though. Whichever party, Adam or Eve, is still holding
out or acting as if he or she is disinterested, must be notified in no
uncertain terms that the two of you are indeed in a relationship!
4. Adam and Eve's relationship grows through mutual respect
and admiration (this doesn't stop them from making smart-ass comments to or
about one another). The relationship thrives on creativity and the desire to do things for one another. Notice the word mutual here. If the attraction
is not mutual by this point, either cut your losses and move on, or repeat step
two with the understanding that you have become a stalker.
5 & 6. Adam & Eve consummate their mutual affection
sexually, notify each other that they want to, or notice they want to be with
one another more than anyone else. Doesn't matter much which order (obviously, notifying one another verbally is
not necessary in every scenario).
7. Adam and Eve decide they want to stay together and commit
to only have sex with each other. To clear up any possible confusion, this also
disallows Adam's perusal of porn sites and staring at or drooling over other
women, but Eve retains the right to peruse porn sites and stare at or drool
over other men as long as Adam is not in the same vicinity. Why this double
standard, you ask? Review #4, highlighted for your convenience. Even this, she
does for Adam (such a selfless girl). Porn sites keep her abreast of new
positions and trends, and staring and drooling perpetuate her sexual
creativity.
So, there you have it. Of course, love develops and grows
over time, as the couple meets and overcomes challenges together. What do you
think?
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