Home Romance You Don’t Need An Online Approval To Be Happy In Your Relationship

You Don’t Need An Online Approval To Be Happy In Your Relationship

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Oh, good old dating days… Good old days of love, affection, physical closeness, real values, and true happiness. How I miss those. How I crave those.

It was different back then. People were happier. Relationships were simpler. Love was more genuine. Life was easier.

I consider myself truly lucky to be a part of the last generation that actually valued love over everything. The generation that had real values. The generation that didn’t need to be validated by anyone. The generation that knew what real love means.

Today, we live in a completely different world. All of those things are in the past now…

Nowadays, people are obsessed with sharing their lives on social media. It is the only thing that brings them joy. Or so it seems.  They feel like if they don’t show their partner or share the bits of their relationship on social media, they will be instantly accused of avoiding commitment and hiding their love life. As if Facebook and Instagram were real measures of one’s happiness. It is hilarious.

Just one wrong move in the online world and you can be immediately be charged with not being “the perfect boyfriend/girlfriend”. It doesn’t take much. Just forget to post a photo of your vacation or simply don’t share an anniversary status with the world, and you are done.

I repeat. Done.

Why? Tell me, why do we need to be constantly validated by society?

Isn’t our own validation, our own approval, our own opinion enough?

And if it isn’t, I dare to ask once more. WHY?

You don’t need an online approval of your love life or your life, in general. Social media might be a good place for exchanging information, ideas, and opinions. And that’s it. Nothing more. Social media should not measure the success or the longevity of your relationship. Your partner not posting photos of you on a regular basis or not sharing love posts with you shouldn’t make you doubt them. The only thing that you should care about is their behavior when they are with you.

Your relationship is not a movie for others to see. It is not something that should disclose to the general public. Your intimacy is reserved only for you and your partner. No one else.

And also… What good can come off sharing your entire life on social media when you have no clue what tomorrow might bring? What if you break up? What if one day you wake up and realize that you no longer love that person?

What will you do then? You’ll delete all those posts and photos and pretend like nothing ever happened until the next person comes along, sweeps you off your feet and you start sharing another love story online?

Excuse me, but that’s just sad. Your relationship is not a romantic movie. It is real life. It is happening right here and right now. And it concerns you and your partner. Not your friends. Not your family. And especially not your followers.

So, here’s a wild idea.

What do you say you stop obsessing so much about what your relationship looks online and start focusing on how your relationship looks in real life?

True happiness is found only in togetherness. In respecting, loving, trusting, and cherishing one another.  In being there for one another and spending your life in each other’s company. In talking about the things that startle you, sharing your plans, daydreaming, supporting each other’s goals, listening to each other’s opinions, and simply enjoying your life together. In paying attention. In living in the present moment… In valuing and protecting your intimacy.

So, don’t let this society fool you. You don’t need an online approval to be happy in your relationship.

All you need is love.

Stephanie Reeds