Modern Relationships Need These Old-School Lessons
Courtship may have been around forever, but the concept of dating is relatively new and can be traced back to the 19th century.
Juxtapose that to today’s idea of dating, and it’s hardly recognizable.
What used to be newspaper columns and personalized ads are now websites and mobile apps. It’s safe to say that finding love is much easier in this era of technology.
As dating and romance evolved, some principles have been left behind in the past. They’re better left in the past simply because they don’t fly in this century. If you thought getting married before turning 25 was a must, the good news is that you’re not a loser if you remain single by then!
However, some old-school lessons are still applicable in modern relationships. Like great wine, they’ve aged well enough to remain relevant.
What are these lessons, you ask? Apply these timeless takeaways to your relationships:
#1: Love isn’t a rat race
Modern society has a pretty fast pace. The speed is a byproduct of technological evolution, leading us to look for quick fixes at every chance we get. And because we’ve gotten used to instant gratification, we can’t help but get antsy when things immediately don’t go our way.
We all want efficiency, yes? The thing is, love doesn’t work that way! Just because our surroundings move fast doesn’t mean your relationship should run at full speed.
Relationships (and everything that comes with it) take time to blossom. Just be patient and let nature take its course.
#2: Star in your role
And no, I don’t mean traditional roles where the woman just sits back and lets the man do the work. In the context of relationships, acing your roles means understanding each other’s natural tendencies and working together as you go for your inclinations.
For example, let’s say you’re living together, and you’re better in the kitchen compared to your partner. If your partner understands that, they’ll take it as a non-issue and take on different household tasks (yard work, cleaning, etc.) to keep your home harmonious.
#3: Commitment means staying and fixing things
Unless one of you commits an unfixable mistake (betrayal, abuse), leaving isn’t the best solution. Problems are inevitable in relationships, and both of you will make mistakes. It sucks, but it is what it is.
Commitment means working through hard times with your partners. The sooner you accept that, the better your relationship will be.
#4: Gentlemen, please up your game
Although you don’t need to go on fancy dates and send Shakspearean messages, don’t go for lazy ideas. Modern relationships need effort and attention to make them healthier and more enjoyable. Instead of hitting a woman with a “sup” (“what’s up,” for those unaware) text, why not court her properly?
#5: Audiences need not apply
Don’t get me wrong: sharing your relationship on social media is fine! What’s the harm in posting wholesome content on each other, yes? However, posting too much may lead you to feel pressured to live up to a specific image.
Your relationship doesn’t need noise from an outside audience. No other party should be privy to everything going on between you other than yourselves.
There’s still room for these traditional takeaways in modern relationships. There’s a reason they remain timeless!
