A Relationship Rule of Thumb
Here’s a rule of thumb I use whenever I’m in a relationship. It helps me to determine whether something I’m going to do is a good or bad thing.
Would I feel guilty or bad if a friend of my significant other saw what I was doing and reported it back to my significant other? Is my act sketchy enough to allow for misinterpretation?
For instance, say I want to grab a beer with some buddies. We’re planning on hitting a local bar and getting totally trashed. If a friend of my significant other saw that, would that be bad? Probably not, unless I pee on the sidewalk and run around naked (which I most probably, almost certainly, am pretty damn sure I wouldn’t do… unless we did tequila shots too).
Now say I want to get dinner with an ex. If the friend saw that, would that be bad? It has the potential to cause some drama. But if it’s just a friendly dinner with no sketchy intentions, then I should at least tell my significant other about it. Better for her to hear it from me, than to find out from her friend, who may misinterpret the situation.
How about if I go on a ski trip with some friends and crash in the same bed as a female friend? If the friend saw that, would that be bad? That would be an all-caps YES. Even if there’s nothing between the female friend and I, this kind of situation is just lathered with misinterpretations. I can hear it now. “Why couldn’t you just sleep on the floor? Why crash into HER bed? Who is she exactly? Do you like her?” This kind of thing is exactly what will land you in the doghouse.
When I apply this rule of thumb to these situations, it automatically tells me how to handle each. For the first, nothing. For the second, tell her about it. For the third: Don’t Do It.
It’s a pretty easy rule of thumb. I’d like to say it’s common sense. But it’s not; I’ve seen my fair share of violations. So for those who are going to do something and want to know if it’s a good or bad thing for the relationship, consider this rule of thumb. It might just save you from the doghouse.
Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment!
Related Posts
- Rule #1: Cheating means it’s over
- A missed opportunity
- Pursuit theory: The girl’s role
- Why Men Marry Some Women and Not Others
- TOP FIVE
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
I have the same rule, but I expand it to anyone I care about. I’d never do anything that would upset or disappoint my family, friends, or lover.