Relationships form a huge part of our lives; nobody wants to waste precious years unhappy and unfulfilled with the wrong partner. It is understandable then when some of us enter new relationships with a slightly pessimistic outlook; on the lookout for relationship red flags and telltale signs that this person is simply not the one. Better to be safe than sorry, right?
Image credits: Mireyaz02 (not the actual photo)
As an antidote to this negativity, Tumblr user Lois Jones, who goes under the username thepassioncrisis, decided to turn things around and see things from a more optimistic perspective. She started a wholesome and interesting discussion about all the good things to look out for in a potential partner-for-life, as people listed their 'green flags' of a healthy relationship.
Because we all have our own needs and desires, the dating advice was wide-ranging. From tongue-in-cheek quips about portion sizes at dinner to more insightful comments about the importance of communication in any long-term relationship, these responses show the kind of things that we value in our partners, and give us a wake-up call as to what we could be doing better for each other!
Lois herself was thrilled with the positive response to her post. "I love that I'm able to reach such a wide audience and foster debate about how to recognize healthy relationships," she told Bored Panda. "It's especially important to me that young people are able to recognize good relationships and not just toxic ones."
"I'm in a loving, polyamorish relationship, so the green flags I talk about are quite personal to me and very important in my life. I've actually had a couple of polyamory blogs talk about my post positively, which definitely made my heart sing!"
Lois, 18, is also a poet and aspiring novelist, she loves to be able to touch people's lives through her writing. "I love writing about relationships in all their forms," she told us. "To be able to spread positive messages about love to such a wide audience would be an absolute dream!"
Lois is publishing her first book this summer titled Seasonal Shifts. For more info about her work, you can check out her writing blog here.
What do you think? Do you have any dating tips to add to the list? Do you notice and appreciate the 'green flags' that you see in your significant other? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!