Relationships can be a wonderful source of joy and happiness. When people are in meaningful relationships they feel secure and cherished by their partners, and they have someone to lean on when times are tough. Relationships can be romantic or platonic, and they can exist in-person or virtually.
When we say that someone is in a relationship, we are usually referring to a committed relationship. When you are in a committed relationship, you and your partner are both committed to spending time together and nurturing the relationship. People in committed relationships often use identifiers like boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner to indicate the status of their relationship to others.
Intimacy is another important part of a healthy relationship. This can mean sex, but it also can refer to other forms of physical intimacy like kissing, cuddling, and sleeping together. If you are in a committed relationship, you should be comfortable talking about these things with your partner and be on the same page about how you want to experience intimacy.
Healthy relationships require a lot of work, but not necessarily in the way that most people think. For example, a good relationship is much like a hobby or school project that you get really psyched about – it takes a little bit of effort, but it’s fun and enjoyable. A good relationship is also like a good workout – it’s challenging at times, but it makes you feel great in the end.