Due to recent events with some friends of mine, I have to decided to share what I believe is the best thing that happened in mine and Riley's relationship. Hopefully it will help some of you out, will be entertaining, or at the very least will be something for me to reference back to when I'm feeling particularly frustrated about a situation.
The best thing we have done is that we've learned how to COMMUNICATE. Not just talk to each other, but have learned how we react to situations and why we react the way we do. Granted, Riley and I keep finding totally new situations to both of us so it's an adventure. The important thing is to talk about how you want something said or handled and why.
To help us get started with this process we actually took a couple of quizzes that helped a lot. The first one was the 5 Love Languages Assesment (you can google it and it will come up). Even though Riley and I are very similiar with our languages, we were able to better understand why certain things were important to us.
For example, it really bothers me when people are late, and I mean it REALLY bothers me. I can handle 5-10 minutes but when it creeps up to 15-30 minutes late and you are that late consistently I will be upset. Riley would be that late all the time and he couldn't understand why it would bother me so much. After we took the assesment we learned that my primary love language is Quality Time. After talking about it for a bit Riley understood that when he is late I'm upset because it takes away my time from him. Since then he has been a star in that area, making sure that he leaves when he needs to and texts or calls me when he is running late so I know.
The other quiz that we took was the 5 Languages of Forgiveness. This one was a definite eye opener for me. It turns out that I feel that you should apologize and then make up for it somehow. That's a struggle because I don't know how someone can make things up to me. Riley on the other hand just wants to be apologized to. It doesn't really matter how as long as it's done.
Even though these assesments did help us understand each other a lot more, we still had/have our bumps. The thing that was the absolute hardest to do and has been the most effective was our first conversation on how we react when we're upset. Not that we're upset with each other all of the time, but that conversation made it easier to talk about how we communicate in every situation; not just when we're upset.
Now for the hardest part...you have to be COMPLETELY honest with each other on how you're feeling and be COMPLETELY open about it. This is very hard to do, especially for me. When I get upset or feel like I want to explain something I tend to get quiet. My initial response is to suck it up and deal with it. There are certain times where that is the right response, but not when it comes to discussing things with someone you're in a relationship with.
Riley had a hard time dragging things out of me. What he would do to help me is ask me specific questions. Questions are good, but when they're vague you aren't going to get anywhere. Asking, "how are you feeling?" is way too generic. The question, "why are feeling that way?" is a lot more effective. The response, "I don't know" is ok. Now you both has something to discuss and discover.
After you learn these things about each other you have to understand that BOTH of you have to make sacrifices. There are certain things you'll have to do for each other and compromise on. The best way I can explain this is by one of mine and Riley's experiences.
Here is some background information first. When Riley is upset or concerned about something, he has to talk about it right then and have some form of physical contact with me. When I am upset I want to talk about after I have some time to calm down and think it over and I am not ok with any form of physical contact.
Once we talked about how we reacted and the reasons for it, we were able to make it easier for both us to discuss things. When we are having a serious discussion Riley gives me some time to think about it. What I do is make sure that I'm holding his hand or something like that. They are little changes but it has made a world of difference for every conversation we have.
Thanks for bearing with me! I know I have A LOT more to learn, but I'm very grateful that Riley and I are off to a good start. I am incredibly lucky to have found such a wonderful man. He is patient, ambitious, spiritual, hard-working, and very willing to make sacrifices and take the time to understand me. I love him so much. 11 DAYS!!!
Have a noteworthy day!