What does successful relationship look like to you?

[Anonymous]

How long have you been married, in a relationship? What does a successful marriage mean to you?

[WindAtMyBack]

50th wedding anniversary is a pretty good indicator. My parents, and the parents of all my friends when I grew up made it to that number. Some people I knew in school are getting close to it. I know at least three couples from school who have been together over 50 years but not married that long.

[Anonymous]

Like this.

[jennifer_bloom]

It means we have a clean place to live, peaceful conversation, only respectful and low intensity disagreements, love each other dearly, bring either children or pets or volunteer work or ministry into our family home, have leisure time and money for quality time with each other. Can eat healthy and nutritious meals and are able to exercise or do recreational events. We feel happy around each other and protect each other.

[Guy13]

Married. Moving some direction. Some disagreement. Some growth. Family. Not struggling etc.

[Faith18letsgo]

D: we talked for hours over the phone, was long distance, ODed when I got mad at him for kissing me when I told him not to. Overall great person, bad relationship.

K: Said yea to dating me but never wanted to go on any of the dates I proposed, I felt her up with out asking (seriously my bad), we broke up. Great person, bad relationship (my fault).

Z: Talked openly, we’re friends, liked to mess around, shared twin bed, friends with each others parents, I freaked out when he came on my hand, we broke up. Mediocre person, good relationship.

C: Partner danced together, kissed, never pressured me into anything, got serious with someone else, we broke up. (Good person, great relationship)

L: made me drive him to stuff, couldn’t drive, friends with his parents, wanted to fuck his mom, funny and cuddly, tried to force me to have sex with him, we broke up

A: We are not dating or even necessarily hooking up, really nice very, we’re taking it slow, he’s experienced, never pressures me into anything (who knows, fingers crossed).

[SnowedIn]

We've been married for 23 years.

Successful means honesty. Loyalty. SEX. Not sex. COMMUNICATION. Hard work. Tears. Joy. Failure. Working together. Being alone. Having friends of the opposite sex. Agreeing with each other in front of the kids when it matters. Not having to be right all the time. Agreeing to disagree. Being friends. If you have them, raising children who are nice, thoughtful, caring, polite, and good citizens. Laughing. Able to do things apart. Able to do things together. Dividing chores. Keeping secrets. Having secrets. TRUST. Chilling out. Recognizing that it's okay to not like each other sometimes. You don't have to have all the same likes and dislikes. Taking a breath before responding. LISTENING. Taking the time to learn about the other person.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Here's the thing: none of this is hard, item by item. But you have to do it all and it takes a lot of work and time and very deliberate effort.

[KathrynTaylor]

Having a roof over your head, compatibility, personality and attraction wise; trust. Safety and honesty, loyalty. Love.

[Little_Bumblebee]

In my eyes, a successful relationship is where both thrive with each other and they make room for one another.

[Sparkie460]

I've been married for 29 years. A successful relationship is where you both work together without compromise or an argument.

[TacosRAwesome]

Mutual respect, similar goals and maintain the desire for sex.