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Hey SA, I've been following your advice and it's been going pretty well! I made the realization that if you're sincerely nice to girls, they will appreciate it. Somehow I had a previous belief of girls as an object that naturally opposed my own desires...
Well, I have started befriending several girls, and am starting to learn more about them. This brings me to wonder, how viable is a long term relationship with a girl? Can you give me some general advice on starting and keeping relationships? How does one enjoy the relationship while maintaining their own self (as in, not fall into becoming a "nice guy")?
A long term relationship is very viable, but it all comes down to timing, effort and mutual goals in life. I am probably not the best guy to ask about long term relationships, but I have been around long enough and understand relationships and people in general. It really comes down to how honest and open you can be with your significant other and your ability to forge a true friendship.( A good relationship is a friendship on fire) Any successful long term relationships that I know of always consists of a strong bond of friendship and mutual respect.
I Know tons of people that stayed in a LTR for all the wrong reasons, and now they are seperated, bitter and have children that surely suffer. Just look at the divorce rate, especially in north America.
I have known couples to stay together for 6-10 years and now they basically hate each other. It's truly sad, as they are both usaully awesome individuals.
If you see couples that argue a lot, they are doomed.
To keep it simple, there is nothing wrong with trying to find your soul mate. Date every girl that gives you a woody or that awesome gut feeling, get dumped, do the dumping, get hurt, fall in love. It's all the recipe to finding a true love. However! you can also be wise, know exactly when to cut it off. Cutting it off is critical, you're simply not gonna find your match right away, and if you do, you're a lucky man. Some people spend entire their lives trying to find the perfect mate.
You also have to stay true to your convictions, once you end a relationship you must let it go, believe in your own assessment of it and your decision to end it. No matter how hot she is, or how comfortable it seems. Your ability to erase it from your thoughts and take all the positive you can out of the experience, whether you got dumped or she did, will dictate how successful you will be in finding a true relationship. Time is precious. Life can get in the way fast.
Always go out and get laid as soon as possible after a break up. It helps in so many ways.
Cut of signs. ( I am sure some readers can add to this, and I hope they do)
Arguing more then twice a week and usually escalates.
You have to lie to her just to keep the peace.
She starts trying to change you.
It's hard to have a real conversation.
You don't respect her.
She doesn't respect you.
She has a lot of guy friends.
She doesn't give head.
You don't get along unless alcohol or drugs are involved.
She is too needy
You are too needy
You become a pussy ( literally develop a vagina and she bends you over the table)
You loose attraction
She flirts with your friends.
She is secretive.
etc etc etc etc
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Also, I'd like to know your own personal philosophy. What's your stance on marriage? Do people just settle for what they can get after they realize they're getting old, or are there really some close-to-ideal marriage situations out there?
In my opinion, marriage is just a piece of paper. People truly in love are already married within. The "sacred bond" is already there. Marriage is just an out of date ritual, that used to signify ownership of a woman. We live in 2012. There is merit in marriage, showing the ultimate commitment. But what good is that when 10 yrs later your not even together anymore. So many people do it for the wrong reasons. Family/religion/comfort/fear. Just like an LTR they stay together out of comfort and fear. ( fear of being alone, fear of starting over. fear/fear/fear) When they both know they are not right for each other.
People do this all the time, Society has set a standard and ideal age and lifestyle. People are sheep, they must conform. Don't be a sheep. Do it for the right reasons.
I broke up with a incredible woman she was virtually perfect, intelligent, gorgeous, caring, empathic and had an awesome character. I end it simply because of her desire to get married. We had only been dating for a year. Yet she wanted to get married. Simply because she had a life long desire to be married by the age of 30. She was 29. I couldn't believe it, I had told her we are not best friends yet. And that has to happen. but she kept pushing it. She pushed it so much I had to end it.
It sucked, but I stayed true to my conviction and it became a lot easier. She later thanked me after 4 months of stalking me and a couple years past.
In my opinion to find a true relationship, it must start with a true friendship.
Think about it this way, look at yourself, and some of your true friends. You can sometimes hate them, but you remain friends. You don't just walk away from them. When times are bad. This is what a real relationship must be.