Whenever I see old married couples walking hand in hand or looking at each other affectionately, I instantly think of my boyfriend of five years. Will we be like that one day? Will we stay together for that long? Will our love endure?
How exactly does a relationship last? How can people stick it through for months, years or even decades? If I were asked that question, I have a pretty simple answer. It is because of choice. For me, to love someone is to make that person your only option. You do it not because there's no one else, it's because you simply want to.
Love may be a matter of the heart but equally important is how you shape your mind. If you are in a LTR, choose to stay committed to that person you fell deeply in love with years ago. If you are going through a difficult time, don't let this moment consume you forever. Choose to see goodness behind the flaws, choose to believe that those shared happy memories will always outweigh the bad ones. Choose not to feed the negative emotion and don't let it grow. When meeting people, choose not to be tempted with what ifs. Instead, brush it off because you know you are happy and contented and you have met The One.
Most importantly, rekindle the spark in your relationship. Constantly see or at least talk to each other. Greet each other in the morning and at night even if you don't feel like doing it. Be adventurous and try new things together. Learn more about each other - honestly, you still don't know everything about him/her. It's when people look at you and still see a happy new couple who's mushy, gooey and all over the place that will make you believe that yes, love is steadfast and endures forever.
May you have more wonderful years together!