Don’t be surprised when people show their true colors. — Exactly eight weeks ago was my wedding day. After five years and countless adventures together, I got to marry my person. Due to being a bridesmaid many times (27 dresses, anyone?) I had observed how unhappy couples often were on their special day. The experiences helped me learn what mistakes…

If a Groomsman hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, we might have never known what was happening behind closed doors. — Several weeks ago, I got married to the love of my life. The wedding day was perfect, it went by without a single hitch, and we danced the night away surrounded by a close-knit group of our dearest loved ones. After the festivities, a group of us returned to our…

You believe your partner should know what you are thinking. — As a former “hopeless romantic,” I grew up with entirely unrealistic relationship expectations. I had a certain idea of what a “perfect” relationship would look like. There would be no fights, and everything would fall into place as soon as I finally met “the one.” Throwing myself into relationships headfirst…

They play the “boyfriend/girlfriend” role without actually committing — It was a Friday night brimming with possibility and excitement. Single in a new city, I was excited to meet my date that evening, Rob. Before the date, I took a couple of sips of wine for a little liquid courage, as it was my first “real” blind date that…

Four signs that you are entering the next chapter in your journey — From the outside looking in, someone who has never gone through narcissistic abuse would assume that leaving is the most challenging part. The truth is that the hardest part comes after you leave the narcissist. Staying away for good is one battle in itself. …

Don’t assume every person genuinely wants for you to be happy — My fiance’ is a very private person. He is cautious regarding what he shares with others, including his closest friends and family. I am the complete opposite. I have been an open book throughout my life, especially with my close friends. Relationships are a huge part of our lives, and…

Both parties have to come with a willingness to work on the relationship. — There is a piece of my past that I have only shared with several people in my life. In the initial stages of dating my fiance,’ my best friend accidentally alluded to this incident in front of him. When questioned, I lied and quickly changed the subject. …

They will weaponize the future to keep their victim from leaving — If I were to outline the most manipulative things that the narcissist did, it wouldn’t have been the apparent charm or the violent behavior/rage that would transpire when he didn’t get his way. No, the most devastating manipulation happened subtly. It happened in the moments when the narcissist would casually…

What two people want for the future can end up being completely different — Back in college, my best friend and I lived in a house with several male roommates. One of them was incredibly sweet and had a wonderful girlfriend he had been dating for years. We were entirely convinced they would get married. The “happy” couple ended up moving to another state…