A while back I wrote a blog about tell tale signs of a toxic relationship. I’ve been thinking a lot this week about how lucky I am to be with someone who is the total opposite of the last person I was with, and I’d like to take a minute to share some signs of a GOOD relationship.

As most of you know, I’ve been dating Dan Nelson for about a year and a half now. He doesn’t like the spotlight being put on him, but he’s gonna have to suck it up for a hot minute so I can brag about him! 😘 Here’s a couple of reasons that make him a stellar example of a good partner.

1. Cares about you/looks after you.

Dan is easily one of the most caring people I know. Even though he’s busy and he has plenty of his own shit going on all the time, he’s always willing to help me if I need it. And whenever I’m hurt or not feeling very good, he’s there to make sure I have what I need. Earlier this week, I had my monthly visitor and felt like I was dying lol. Dan would ask if I need Tylenol, or if I was craving anything, or if I just needed anything in general. That’s what a real man does! He doesn’t make you feel like an inconvenience if you’re sick or hurt, he makes sure you have what you need to get better, and he’s willing to help any way he can.

2. Makes a serious effort.

This is a biggie! If you remember the last blog post, I said my last BF would always make excuses not to do stuff with me. Dan is the opposite. He makes every kind of effort to be there for me and come to stuff with me. He’s one of the busiest guys I know, but no matter what he has going on, he makes a point to come see me every single day. Even if it’s only for half an hour at a time, doesn’t matter! He goes out of his way to spend time with me and I love that he does so.

3. Lifts you up/supports your dreams

Also in the last post, I said my last BF didn’t support my endeavors and at one point even said he was embarrassed of what I did for a living. Similarly, I lost a job while dating Dan just like I did while dating the last guy. Dan encouraged me in my job search though. He didn’t make me feel like shit for being unemployed, and when I called him to tell him I had been hired at LATC, he was genuinely excited for me. That’s the kind of support your S.O needs to give you. It wasn’t my fault I lost a job, why make me feel worse about it?

Dan also has been super supportive of my dream to be an author. I offered to give him a free copy, but he insisted on buying one because he wanted to support me. He’s been excited with me, and he’s even pushed me to keep working when I get in a slump. Your man needs to build you up, not tear you down!

4. Is willing to talk about issues

Honestly, looking back, I’m seriously surprised my last relationship lasted as long as it did. Whenever an issue came up, we rarely worked it out. Instead, it got swept under the rug because he refused to talk it out, and I eventually just stopped trying. Not the case with Dan. We’ve had our spats, but we’ve sat down and talked them through. He’s not afraid to tell me what’s going on and I’m the same way. Obviously fighting isn’t a fun part of any relationship, but you know it’s going to happen sooner or later. If you can work it out so you know what not to do next time, then you’re golden. That’s how it’s supposed to be.

5. Your friends and family like them!

Remember in the last post when I said my parents didn’t like my last BF, and my friends always questioned why I was still with him?? Man it feels good to have that not be the case anymore. My parents love Dan. They say it’s not even a comparison to the last guy, Dan is hands down a better man. I still remember the first time my sister met him. He got up to go to the bathroom and she leans over to me and goes, “oh, I like him already!” I can’t even describe how good that felt. That they see what I see, and think the world of him too. And we have a lot of the same friends, so I know they like him! I don’t think I’ve heard one of them say one bad thing about him – okay other than he sucks at answering his phone sometimes, but nobody’s perfect! 😜 You know you have a good one if your loved ones like him almost as much as you do.

There you have it! Five signs you have a good partner. If that sounds like the guy or gal in your life, congrats, you’ve got a good one. 🙂 Don’t take it for granted and make sure they know how much they mean to you!

Oh, and if you see Dan, tell him congrats on the new job!

Until next time! 🙂

Megan Reiffenberger