*Instantly has Smash Mouth stuck in head*

It's often the little things in life that bring us the most joy.

I am SO thankful for many things in my life - I have two amazing parents, incredible family & friends, work at my dream company, a countless amount of love & support - the list is endless. BUT 9 times out of 10, the biggest smile on my face comes from the tiniest of moments snuck ever so subtly into my everyday life. For this, I thank Mr. Westerlind. 

Relationships are hard. You will be thrown curve-balls, there will be disagreements & you might even feel like you're playing a losing game of LIFE. Buttttt let me tell ya, relationships with the right person are oh so wonderful as well. If you're lucky, those ugly times are few and far between and that game of LIFE played with your best friend becomes the greatest adventure of all time!

People often ask me how long I've been in my relationship & when I respond with the nearing double-digit answer, gasps arise when they glance at my finger and don't see a ring. Don't get me wrong, I too question why I haven't been asked those four little words yet BUT I hate that people define our relationship by this single defining moment. Richie & I have been dating since we were in 11th grade. When you start dating in high school, you can't exactly jump into the real world - we both had a lot of growing up to do & thankfully we've been able to learn + grow to become the people we are today.

That said, I've learned SO much over the last nine years & I wanted to share a few of those small things with you.

NEVER TAKE EACH OTHER FOR GRANTED. Like, ever. No day on this earth is guaranteed. I am thankful every single day for the opportunities that come my way & translate that into my relationship with Richie. Last minute tickets to a concert? Let's do it! Weekend trip to the shore? Yup, the bags are packed! If an opportunity to make lifetime memories with one another presents itself, you can bet your bottom dollar we're all in!

ALWAYS KISS ME GOODNIGHT. A classic cliche that holds SO much truth. We never go to bed angry at one another & we always remind each other with real X's & O's. 

I LIKE YOU & I LOVE YOU. This is probably one of my favorite sayings & I say it to Richie ALL the time. It's one thing to love someone unconditionally, but when you're in a serious relationship and live with this human, it's SO crucial to actually like being around, spending time with, and conversing with the person you're dating. I like Richie, like a lot.

I'M ALL YOURS. My mom always told me that communication is the key to being successful in life. In a dating relationship, communication is everything. In today's norm of texting + social media, feelings & tone of a conversation can get lost in translation. Put down the phone, log off of Instagram and focus on what's right in front of you. Become the best listener you can be & engage in real life human connection with your partner. Richie & I try to commit at least an hour of non-device time to be together.

THE WHIP-CREAM TO MY WAFFLES. Laughter is the best medicine. If there's one thing I've learned I can't live without in a relationship, it's laughter. Nine years later, Richie still has me in tears when he's cracking jokes. Be with the person who never ceases to put a smile on your face. & he will always cheer me up with breakfast food.

Enjoy all the little moments, you never know when they'll become BIG moments. 

XO, The Future Miss You

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