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If a relationship seems like one you want to last, you need to be willing to work at it. At first it just seems to come naturally, but as time goes on you will find that you need to put effort into keeping the relationship alive and vibrant.
Time
Even more important that what you do together you need to make time for each other. This isn’t really a problem in the beginning, you want to be together and it seems like making time for work, school and the other necessities is more of a problem. After that initial period, however, you need to make sure you are still spending time together on a regular basis. You are still each other’s best friend.
Trust
Relationships that last have to be built on trust. Stephen Covey (New York Times Best Selling Author) says that if you don’t have trust in a relationship, you really don’t have much of a relationship. That trust grows stronger with experience as you go through things together and you find that you can depend on your friend or companion.
Communication
Another essential component of a lasting relationship is communication. You have to be able to talk to each other, openly and honestly. It is imperative that each of you can listen to the other’s concerns with an open mind, non-judgmentally to be able to understand where they are coming from before you seek to be understood. It is more important that you understand the other person than that you are right all the time, or in other words, seek to understand before you seek to be understood.
