For me personally, it was many years before my standards were set in the realm of reality, instead of the Disneyland fiction from which they were born. And so, it took many heartaches to get to the place I needed to be; to be able to consider a relationship as a the meeting point for two people, where each brings their own experiences, their own characteristics, and their own desires to the table and the couple decides what to do with them all in a positive manner that suits each individual.

One poignant item has struck me in my journey to forever. It is that each of us can have very different expectations for how the couple will combine their lives. I have known some who would be told strongly and clearly, how it will be done, others who would worry each decision as a team, and still others, who would prefer never to discuss the issues at all and just let the issues “work themselves out”. The key to Forever, at least im(not so)ho, is for each party to know the appropriate time to use each of these techniques. And of course…to ensure the couple maintains a sense of adventure.