by Krystle Hernandez

Created on: March 25, 2009   Last Updated: April 26, 2009

Marriage is a unique relationship in that different people define it in many different ways. For some, marriage is a sacred bond that requires an intense commitment and should never be broken. For others, marriage is simply the "next step" once a relationship has reached a certain predefined point. Regardless of its various subjective definitions, however, most individuals (at some point in their lives) wonder what it is that they can expect from marriage. So, the question is, what do you deserve in a relationship?

Although married couples must typically negotiate the boundaries for their particular relationship, there are definitely some basic elements that every individual deserves from a partner who has decided to become involved in a relationship with them.

Respect

If two people make the decision to become involved in a relationship with one another, then they need to be sure that they respect their partners. Each person in this world is unique and precious and no two people are the same. Therefore, individuals deserve to be respected for the sole reason that they are human beings. If you are in a relationship, you deserve a partner who will respect your personal space, your thoughts, and your emotions. When there is a lack of respect amongst partners, a relationship can suffer irreparable damages. When a partner does not respect you, they do not deserve to be in a relationship with you.

Honesty

Every person in a relationship deserves honesty from his or her partner. Although some couples may blur the lines a bit and determine that some white lies here and there are permissible, in the grand scheme of things, individuals involved in a relationship should be honest enough with their partners to ensure a certain level of trust. Without a doubt, trust is an integral part of a relationship. A relationship that lacks trust frequently suffers from a variety of issues from co-dependence to possessiveness.

Regardless, no one "deserves" to be lied to, especially within a relationship. Further, if you respect your partner, you will ensure that you are as honest as possible with them, trusting that no matter what you say, he or she will neither criticize nor judge you and will love you just the same.

Space

No matter how hard we try, individuals simply cannot share their consciousnesses completely with another person. Therefore, it is important to remember that every person, regardless of whether or not he or she is in a relationship, deserves the space to be him or herself.

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