Relationships, the stages of Steak, does this seem familiar or are you better off alone... with a Steak?

It's a funny thing the relationship between 2 people. For this particular article I'll be discussing that between a man and a woman. A marriage, a boyfriend/girlfriend, an engagement. A romantic relationship in the traditional sense.

Take no offense as I mean none for those that may have untraditional relationships, this just happens to be the topic of this particular article.

^{Image Credit: New Jersey}

Raw

Every relationships starts about the same. You don't know much about each other, you feel excitement and fear as you learn about the other and reveal yourself to them, do they get the same feeling from you? It is the ultimate thrill. Something about them has your attention.

You look forward to and wait for their texts, when you see them online your heart skips a beat for just a moment, hoping in anticipation that he/she will message sweet nothings to you. You panic when they don't respond to your texts/messages immediately and it's the best thing in the world to wake up to a text from them.

Everything is New

The first time your hands graze by each other 3 times in a row while walking and you or they finally grasp the other's hand.

That first kiss, awkward or invigorating, maybe a little of both, it doesn't matter it's still amazing and puts butterflies in your stomach.

You teach each other new things and show them the world from your eyes, your past experiences, they show you the same. It's a whole new world from a perspective you've never seen it and it's exciting!

But Is It Real Or Are You Just Kidding Yourselves?

You order a salad when what you really wanted was a steak. You go to a restaurant you can't really afford and act like it's no big thing. You giggle when that joke really wasn't funny at all. You tell half-truths and offer lies of omission. That thing he/she does that your ex did that annoyed you to no end, you pretend doesn't bother you, in fact you say you find it cute.

If they tell you that they're into extreme-sports and getting an adrenaline rush, all of a sudden you've always wanted to go sky-diving or base jumping. If they're more of a home-body you're just that guy/gal to make some popcorn and "netflix and chill". Basically you are being who you think they want you to be, and they are essentially doing the same. It's not who you are, it's not who they are. It's a vacation.

Rare

Eventually the real you, and the real them starts to peak through. You get past the initial small-talk and attempts to impress them and start showing your real interests and annoyances. At this point you either start to grow closer together or decide it might just be time to part ways.

If you still find interest in one another, or you just have a hard time letting go of that initial rush that you once had with them, you likely eventually have your first fight.

The First Fight

The first fight tells you a lot about who your partner is, and how you really feel, but haven't quite processed yet, about them.

If you blow the fight out of proportion and find yourself comparing them to people they dislike aloud and to their face, maybe you're subconsciously trying to get them to end it with you, to walk away, because you yourself do not have the strength. If they do the same to you, take note; and then you have to decide if they are doing that to you if they're worth trying to keep. Do you take the abuse? Do you see enough potential in them already?

Was this just an outburst from them (or you), or is it a huge flag on the play for things to come?

Making Up

At the end of the day, unless some things that you/they just can't let go were said/done during the fight, the fight isn't all that important. What is important is the make-up, if there is one.

Do you talk about the issues that occurred, realize how it all started, make apologies and realize how much you really care for each other? Or do you sweep it under the rug and hold ammo for another fight that's sure to come?

After the first fight, depending on how in-depth it got: a couple may become twice as strong as they were before, having cut through communication barriers they had not yet reached; or they may start to become distant, drifting away and looking at the potential for romance alternatives, fresh, or relapsing into a past relationship.

The relationships that last more than a month or so after this point typically went the better route: communicating, having some crazy passionate sex (if they've reached that point), and cuddling till you or he (whether you're the guy or not) falls asleep and/or asks for a sandwich.

Stay Tuned, we get into Medium Rare next, in the meantime, have yourself a steak....

_{I was going to include steak as a tag but i ran out of tags :(}