Happy & Healthy

WHEN DOES YOUR RELATIONSHIP ENTER THE DANGER ZONE?

You don't sleep a wink when you just start to mess around a bit. Sleep? Sleep is for wimps. You have to get down to business. If you start hallucinating because you're developing a severe sleep deficit, then you can always cuddle. Yes, cuddling like spooning is the next phase. And when you've spent a few months under the same roof and the same blanket, sometimes you just give a kiss (just a little kiss, yes) because you want to read a book. Unthinkable in the beginning, but truly, that time will come.

And then you start celebrating. My love and I try to fit in a dinner now and then when we've ticked off another year (it's honestly more romantic than I'm putting it down). We're at eight years and the clock is ticking. Look, I consider that an achievement. My longest relationship before him ended after nine gigalong months, just saying. And do you know what we've suddenly tackled? The most dangerous thing in relationship land, the biggest milestone, the sword of Damocles of love… It's the seven year itch.

“It's the seven year itch.”

The what? Yes, after seven years your relationship is most susceptible to all sorts of shady practices. You have a rather classic timeline in relationships. In year one, you're bouncing around each other like a couple of horny teenagers, then the sex stuff goes out the window and the struggles begin. If you survive that (which takes about a year), then serious commitment starts. You mine, I yours. Put a ring on it or just cohabitate. After that, it seems there is a genetic occurrence that I completely miss by the way. But then kids come into play. And after seven years, the moment arrives. Here you run the risk that flirting with another hunk leads to infidelity. Boredom sets in. Your partner isn't as fun or interesting as you thought, he or she lacks some relationship skills and the sex, or the lack thereof? Apparently also contributes to that seven-year misery.

Man, and I've accidentally surpassed that. Without even noticing. Honestly a bump here and there, but nothing we couldn't talk through. Even Brad and Jennifer went for the fence after seven years. I say: let's celebrate, no more fitting in dinners, but BIG. And is that seven years about to happen to you? Well, then consider yourself warned.