“You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before and she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She's not perfect, you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together; but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold on to her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break: her heart. So don't hurt her, don't change her, don't analyze, and don't expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, tell her when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there.”
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About this quote
People bring pasts and flaws into relationships; you decide how to respond. If someone hands you trust and vulnerability, protect it instead of cataloguing their history. Don’t try to fix every flaw or expect constant attention; laugh together, admit your own mistakes, and speak up when you’re hurt. Keep expectations realistic and choose patience over constant analysis.
When to use it
- After my wife forgot my birthday because she was slammed at work, I said, "We both messed up this week — I’m not going to overthink it; let’s eat cake and move on."
- Studying abroad and missing my girlfriend, I told her, "You don’t have to think of me every second — just be honest when you can, and I’ll be here when you’re ready."
- During marathon training I missed three dinners and she was upset; I said, "I’m not perfect and neither are you — let’s laugh tonight and make time next week."