Relationships worth having can be hard

I have noticed that the old saying, "If it's worth having, it's worth working hard for," seems to be really true with good relationships. They test your mettle; they bring you to situations in which you may have to make very tough decisions and work hard to keep them.

I think this is a good thing in the long run. It means you have to decide if you truly want the relationship and are willing to "tough it out" to keep it going. Of course, I believe that part of it is simply the decision that it is worth keeping.

It is pretty easy (or at least easier) to just let a relationship go when it gets tough or when hard decisions have to be made. It is simpler (at the moment) to just say, "oh well, there will be others," rather than say, "I really love this person and I am willing to do what it takes to keep it going."

A good relationship, by definition, will (and should) demand a bit more of you than one that is casual and not necessarily going to go the distance. You have to deal with options and items that you might not even have to think about in a simple dating situation.

I think the toughest part is admitting that this relationship is actually one that you believe has the potential to go long-term, so it is worth the extra work to keep it active, positive, and solid. Once you make that decision, for certain, then you have more invested and can tell yourself it is worth it all.

As always, I look forward to your comments, Scott