10 Don'ts to Help Navigate a New Relationship

Speaking from personal experience, I will tell you that I have hurt and been
hurt and am glad to say that now I have come full circle. Life is not easy
but if we follow our hearts and remember who we are as individuals we can bring
our best selves to a new relationship. Many times we come heavy in pain
and covered with a bruised heart. We live in a world that promotes
selfishness and yet each one of us whether we admit it to ourselves or not, seeks
love. Love takes strength. You have to believe that whatever happens you
will bounce back. Sometimes you will get hurt but the walls built around
fear have never stopped people from coming into your life. They have only
stopped the right people from coming into your world. Be bold, be
beautiful, be you and be loved but don't:

1. Don't impose demands on somebody you just met.
2. Don't stalk him/her on cell phone or at work.
3. Don't get mad if you make plans or plans change. ie. over time , sick
4. Don't have sex unless your ready for whatever may happen good or bad.
5. Don't introduce to family members ie. children unless both parties agree that we are in a committed relationship.
6. Don't be what you think he/she wants you to be. Be yourself, be real, it is better to not be liked for who you are than to be liked for who you are not. Also, it is easier to be yourself. When the relationship is over you don't have to go on a quest to find the old you, it will be right there. If you cannot be your authentic self in a relationship then you are not ready to be in any relatioship.
7. Don't assume that what a person says is who they are. Let time and their actions reinforce a persons character. First impressions are only representatives of who a person is.
8. Don't do things for your mate that you are not committed to continuing forever. (Ie. put on sexy lingerie two years later you have on a flannel pjs and an ugly head tie)
9. Don't assume your partner knows what you want. Relationships are not common sense. We all want and need different things. Discuss relationship expectations without scaring eachother off.
10. Don't bring baggage from past relationships. Ie. cheating, he never called so now I think when you don't call your cheating. Give each person a new set of trust and love.

• *DO NOT NAG* This can drive a person to drink. State what you want and move on. If you don't get it, trust that you have received your answer and make a decision to stay and deal with it or leave.