Lane Riggs, English and psychology freshmen, and Sam Sutton, mass communication junior, have been in a relationship for almost four months. They both say nourishment and care are the most important requirements for a relationship’s health.

SAM SUTTON

Love is beautiful, fun, and happy. However, if it doesn’t have the nourishment it needs, it can’t last. I am in a relationship where we actively nurture the connection, and it pays off. We are always complimenting each other, comforting each other when it is needed, and encouraging each other. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more confident in my life since being with Lane.

Before meeting her, I would always stress about people not thinking I’m good enough or smart enough. But now when I’m stressed or worried, she is always there to help. Just in the last few days, she has helped me put my life into perspective, and she showed me that I don’t really have anything to worry about. 

Her encouragement makes me a happier person, as should be the case in a healthy relationship. 

We put a priority on helping each other when we’re down. Last fall, I had a bad case of strep throat and she immediately packed up tea, soup, and movies to watch so I could better rest and feel better. I’ve returned the favor when she was under the weather too. I try to get anything she needs, make sure she’s comfortable, and make sure she heals up as fast as possible so I can see her beautiful smile and energy again.

When together, we compliment each other any time we can, and we laugh and joke with each other (which is really fun). I have never felt more comfortable with someone than I have with Lane. I can be myself with her and I don’t have to hide anything.

That’s a huge aspect of maintaining a strong relationship.

I also admire and look up to her. She is always organized and motivated. Seeing her work so hard inspires me to strive for the same. 

It’s been nearly four months that we’ve been together, and it has been the greatest four months of my life. With the nourishment, care, and work we put into the relationship, we have a bright future together.

Investing your time and energy into strengthening your relationship, as long as it’s a mutual effort, makes both people stronger and happier.

LANE RIGGS

While making time for each other and creating a boundary between work and the relationship is important, nourishment is equally – if not more – important.

Relationships are hard work. I don’t mean that in a bad way, just in that if it is to work, it requires time (as aforementioned) and effort.

Effort can be found in the way you take care of your partner or the way you build up their confidence. As with my relationship, I know that Sam is my own personal nurse and the cornerman boosting me up whenever something is knocking me down.

These aren’t the only ways that he nurtures me, however.

Sam is one of those rare people that would drop anything to help me, whether I need a moment to step away from the world and into his arms or if I have a funny joke to tell him. And that’s one of the wonderful parts of our relationship – we can share laughs with each other easily. We have fun during our best and worst times. In short, he’s my best friend.

He’s also someone that I can look up to – another necessary facet of a relationship. Sam always reminds me that he admires me and I can say that I admire him too. He is a compassionate, wonderful person, who cares deeply about the people around him. He’s spontaneously funny and incredibly insightful, offering me a different perspective (sometimes a more optimistic one).

But that isn’t to say that there aren’t bad sides of him, like there are of me.

I have seen him angry, and I’ve also seen him sad. But I’ve also seen his big goofy grin, and so I put forth an effort in order to see it again. And when I do, it’s like daybreak through a storm.

Relationships can be hard work, but they are rewarding work.

There is no one else I would rather spend time with, and no one else I would rather laugh with. So putting effort into our relationship is but nothing to me – it comes to me inherently.