The Love Survival Guide
Basically, love is when you find your "type" and it also so happens you're the right "type" for your hopeful partner. This results in personality compatibility, or the potential for a mutually delicious bond to happen on the mental (and sometimes also at the spiritual) levels.
Now, when I talk about gauging this, the first step is obviously how do you imagine the ideal appearance of your partner; physical. Also, if you study a lot of different people and their patterns, you may see the different "types" and also notice how things like someone's walk or way of talking can clue you in on personality (but that's an advanced lesson).
Someone attractive? GOOD! The next step is personality (THIS is where we "go shopping"
). Many people, young AND old, have "standardized" personalities (i.e. cowboy/cowgirl, punk/goth, athlete, etc.), and for the common person, it works well to associate the self with one of these and look for others in that category. However, (advanced lesson) this only works well as a template. THE best way to see who somebody is would be to TALK to them! Basically, give a "casual interview" and ask a series of "icebreakers" (A good "later" icebreaker would be to ask about role models. MANY people blank out on this one), and see what happens. Should "good chemistry" occur (that is the term for when the conversation goes into countless tangents fluidly), this is the first sign of compatibility. NOW, some may hold this question:
"I say 'Hi', the person says the same, but we walk away. HOW DO I KEEP THAT TALK GOING?!" That, is a VERY good question. You ask, "What are you doing" OR "Where are you going?" The person will answer, and try to talk more about that...OR drift onto another topic whenever possible. THIS will give you the coveted "Conversation Starter" that is so devious at blocking potential relationships!
What we are looking for is a mutual personality compatibility, sometimes described as "clicking" or "meshing"; that harmonization of emotions and interests.
NOW we have found out that someone flows well and the two of you harmonize with personalities (I assume this throws the "opposites attract" theory out the window). Next is to establish the short-term relationship; basically dating (I've NEVER gotten this far, because nobody could get past my personality test...or at least ALMOST; nobody nearby anyway). A "Date" doesn't have to be romantic, BUT legend has it something "romantic" is swooned upon by both ladies AND gentlemen. Don't go bankrupt, but make sure the atmosphere tells your partner, "You're special."
LONG-TERM COMMITMENT! This part is probably THE most important passage, the element of love that ALL youth, nearly without exception, overlook! It takes more than several good dates, lip-lock kisses, or even "making love" to truly confirm an adequate match that will last through the Test of Time. Commitment is not exactly a skill; it's a virtue. Not many people have this (especially in adolescents; it may be more common in full "grown-ups"), but it can be found in places like the military or those with enough determination to deal with adverse loads of work (scratch ALL "Procrastinators" from the candidate list now!). The virtue basically dictates that a person is willing to determine full willpower to the preservation and the success of a certain objective, this case being the relationship. Adversities WILL arise, because that's just life and Nature pressing the "Test of Time." Solving those problems together, AND making sure they don't get in the way of your intimacy is how to ward off the challenges. This is a TWO-WAY Operation; it has to be with YOU, AND your partner!
A caveat for you: IF the relationship spontaneously falls apart (as if your partner "quits" or there's no apparent issue to cause the dropping of the relationship), that is a failure on your partner, a sign of the partner's stupidity (If YOU "quit", you've failed Commitment and this applies to YOU. The way to tell is who's the one giving the message of "no more"), NOT your own! QUITTERS NEVER WIN! Which takes us to the FINAL chapter:
MARRIAGE! Sure a handful of people in the world can freeze in the "relationship" phase for decades, but if you ask me, ALL relationships end in either heartbreak...OR marriage. THIS is when the "test" is over and the results are judged by both sides of the bond. For positive, someone will propose and the other will be stunned and fling into the arms of the other. For negative, there will be a note that'll say "Nope" and end the relationship. The acceptance/denial of the Proposal doesn't have to be ON-The-Spot. "Thinking about it" doesn't warrant heartbreak, but fear of denial and loss is perfectly understandable. Should one accept, you both get the ceremony arranged, and once you're united by holy matrimony, go ahead and "live happily ever after"...Until, of course, the both of you "change" through age to the point where the compatibility becomes lost. Nobody stays young, and this may be THE only weakness down-the-road.
In theory, if you stick to your caution, and you don't dive into emotion (a "one-night-stand" or "casual sex" is irrelevant to a relationship until a relationship commitment has manifested), you'll be sure to comb out the Diamond in the Rough...IF you ever get the luck to bump into it, of course.
I hope this helps!
The Love Survival Guideby The-Golden-Knight
Literature /
Prose /
Non-Fiction /
Academic Essays©2011-2014
The-Golden-Knight
This is something I wrote as a note to a friend, and I thought this could help a lot of people. This is based on my REAL experiences, so it is subject to change.
I got the name from a game (guess which one), AND if you feel this is worthy, suggest it for Daily Deviation!
Wouldn't THAT be epic?!
By the way, IF you STEAL THIS; 
