Editor's Box Sarah Colston [email protected] Assistant Editor

A good relationship requires true love

Don’t wall yourself off from others

I remember as a little girl I would force my brother to dress like a prince and I would dress as a princess. I pretended to be a distraught princess waiting on her prince to come rescue her. This came with a cost, because every time I played princess my brother made me play football or GI Joes with him in return. As I got older, I stopped playing those games. However, I still longed to be a princess waiting for her prince to come in and save the day.

I think that as we get older we replace being a princess with being strong women (or men) who just want a deep relationship with another person. But what exactly makes a good, deep relationship? Is it physical contact, love notes or warm fuzzy feeling? No, I think that it is none of those things. Noah Calhoun said it best when recalling his love for Allie in the Notebook “but in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me this has always been enough!” That kind of love, true love, is what a relationship needs!

But what does love really consist of? First, love or a relationship must also be a friendship. If two people cannot be best friends they will never be able to love one another. There MUST always be an open line of communication that flows in both directions with no boundaries. There can never be secrets or the relationship will not last.

Communication builds bonds and with each piece of information that is shared a part of one’s heart and soul is given up to that person and cannot be replaced or repaired. However, you must always be careful with your heart when communicating. Allowing a wall to be constructed around one’s heart only creates boundaries to the capabilities of love and increases a lack of trust as well as insecurities with oneself. Being open with emotions and thought allows for a much closer relationship.

Love should always make one feel complete and whole. Love should be a support through the hard and the good times in life. Love and a good relationship should create changes in ones life. Once you have experienced true love you should never be the same. Love is life changing and can increase awareness of one deepest desires and thoughts.

Love can enhance optimism about life and create more joyful experiences throughout life. Saint Augustine said it best "it is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all." Love equals a life filled with happiness.