The C Word

Picture this conversation I had with my wonderful fiance last night.

Me: Do this, blah, blah, blah.
Him: Why should I, blah, blah.
Me: Because, blah, blah.
Him: Argh, blah.

Familiar? This is what all couples tend to hear when they are arguing with their significant others. Depending on who you listen to, each person is in the right, and the other person is essentially the spawn of the devil. This is because it is hard enough to do the C word as a single person facing your mom, your boss or a friend, so it is doubly hard to do it with someone who is supposed to love you no matter what you say or how you say it or what you do regardless of what they say.

The C word I am talking about, of course, is COMPROMISE.

An easy word to say, a harder action to follow-through on. It literally means a promise made together by two parties (at least). The difficulty sometimes, is in realizing such a (half) meeting of minds can exist in the first place. This is because relinquishing the right to decide and rule the conversation is an alien action for two strong-willed (i.e. stubborn) people, who are used to getting their way because they believe it is the best AND the therefore, the only way possible.

Trust and respect for each other should come into play at this point, although it does take time for it to sink in. At the time of deadlock, both parties should take a step back and wonder why they are with each other in the first place. While this reaction could lead into an unfortunate break-up (i.e. "Why am I with you? Argh!!!! I want a pre-wedding divorce!!!!), it could also lead to a realization that the other party is smart and deserving of trust and respect (why else would we be with them in the first place?).

This won't always happen, of course. No one can put their hands on their hearts and promise to always take the step back. It has to be two people making the same promise for it to work... ergo, every couple should compromise to compromise.

It's a dirty job, but two people have to do it.