We Are Only In Relationships.

Lately I've had many friends bring up this topic : 'I don't want a relationship'. I get that. But what I want to ask them is 'Well, are we friends?' the correct answer would be yes, then I would follow up with 

'Then you are in a relationship.'

I'm wondering what the difference is between a great friendship and a great romantic relationship? If I knew how to make a flow chart, that would be happening, however, I do not. A comparison list will have to do.

               Friendship                               Romantic Relationship

      Communication                                 Communication

    Trust                                                     Trust

       Loyalty                                                 Loyalty

       Humor                                                  Humor

Common Interests                            Common Interests

  Putting in effort                                 Putting in effort

                                                            Physical Attraction

      Honesty                                               Honesty

   Apologizing                                       Apologizing 

    Forgiving                                          Forgiving 

Show appreciation                       Show appreciation 

       Hugs                                                    Hugs

Clearly I don't know how to make a properly aligned comparison list either. Sorry team.

Granted, I am NO relationship expert. But I've had my fair share of relationships, and all of them included at least some of these qualities. So why do people say they don't want a relationship when really, they are only in relationships. Yes, yes, I get that with a romantic one comes different emotions, different risks and different 'time requirements'. But don't we all take those same risks with a friend? I'm pretty sure that if I found out one of my best friends was betraying me or not fulfilling one of these qualities, I would be hurt or more likely to want to stop being their friend.

 Can anyone help me out on this concept that I'm clearly missing? Because according to my chart, the only 'key to a successful relationship' is physical attraction. 

Kissing is what separates us from our friends and our 'persons'.

I take all of my relationships, romantic and platonic  very seriously and with great amounts of love. I don't feel like that is so off base for most, so why around every corner this week am I finding people saying these things? 

 What I realized today is that it isn't that people don't want a relationship, they don't want to get hurt. The fear of getting hurt is all holding us back from certain relationship at times. 

Because I'm not sure of anyone in their right mind that would say, 'Gah. I hate feeling loved. I hate that someone wants to spend time with me. I hate having someone that I can always go to. I just hate it all.' Um. Yah. Only a crazy would say that. 

I'm not really sure why I wrote about all of this today. Most of my art is about relationships, so these ideas are in constant movement in my mind. I think I just needed to send it out into the void that is the internet to get it off my mind for just a minute. Again, those moments where I'm not thinking about such 'heavy' topics are refreshing. 

I guess what could sum up this post is a quote (that I just made up, maybe it will catch on like wild fire and end up on Pintrest in a kitsch graphic design poster).

"As for me, I will choose relationships with people who matter, rather than the relationship with fear."

If I Could Sing, I'd Do A Cover Of This

Desire
Ryan Adams
Why: I like the last line, "...that you run and never tire..." I think that is how all relationships in life should be. Putting in all your effort and never running out of steam, because hopefully, that person on the other side of the relationship is doing the same, thus no steam being lost.