What does it mean to have a successful relationship?

I don’t think a successful relationship has to go until death in order to earn that label.

I guess I would define a successful relationship as one in which the partners were truly intimate, open and communicative, sexually compatible, and ended the relationship maturely, wishing each other well.

Tons of lurve for @marinelife. I’ve had several successful monogamous long term relationships where we parted as friends. One of those friendships has weathered 26 years now.

I totally agree with @marinelife!!! Great way to be put.

Here is some advice from a few decades ago.

It means your slave girl is obedient and goes into her cage when you tell her to…

@marinelife, I love your answer and agree, but I have to say (as respectfully as possible!) I think this contradicts what you said about non-monogamous relationships.

@nikipedia Hmm, I don’t see those things as being contradictory at all. I don’t feel you can reach true intimacy with multiple partners.

So are we only talking about romantic relationships? Or, friendships also? I will assume romantic only. I think only the two people themselves can decide if it was successful. I certainly don’t think it must be until death to be deemed successful. I guess I would define a successful relationship as one where the two people both feel loved, supported, acheive goals, and feel happy. If there comes a point where they realize they can no longer grow together and they decide to split, and they both feel the relationship was useful and fulfilling while they were together, then the relationship was successful in my book.

A friend of mine told me about something she read that explained relationships in terms of reading matter and I think it’s apt.

Some relationships/friendships are like pamphlets, you flick through them very quickly, get what you need and move on.
Some are like quick read novels. You speed read them, have a whale of a time but then it is over and you move on. You might think about it at times and remember things from the story but it doesn’t draw you back in.
Others are favourites that you can read over and over again and you wish would never end.

I think a successful relationship is one that gives both parties what they need at that time. Some are life-long, some are not. If they aren’t it doesn’t mean they weren’t successful, but they were just not meant to last forever. My first marriage lasted 17 years, I had three beautiful children. I don’t get on with my ex but I don’t regret the relationship, it was right for its time and now it is over. I hope my current marriage lasts forever because I feel such a strong connection on so many levels to my husband. Both were/are successful in their own way.

Some relationships do not end.

@perspicacious: Like, you guys are gonna have eternity in heaven? Good luck with that.

@Bellatrix great description ! The question is plenty broad enough to include friendships which can easily be substantial for a while then become remember-who-when-fondly.

@nikipedia We don’t need luck, but thanks.

A successful relationship are the ones that have the reunion tours…with lot’s of encores and standing ovations! ;)

I know plenty of couples that stay together for the wrong reason and so, just because they stay together (maybe even until death), doesn’t make it succesful relationship.

A succesful relationship to me is one that is long lasting were the good times far outweigh the bad and each person genuinly loves the other.

My wife and I just started our 46th year of being married…..together.

We know how to communicate with each other. We know which buttons not to push to start an arguement. We respect each other. Even today, we continue to do things for each other, that we started way back in 1964, like leaving a love note for the other to find and read. We know that staying married is a job in itself and we work at making our marriage work. We know that our marriage is a good example for our children and others to follow. We know this, because people are constantly asking how we do it. We know that our good times have always been better than the bad times.

We know that we have been blessed.

@john65pennington great examples of : don’t take each other for granted, respect and appreciate each other. Well done, sir!

Active-constructive responding to emotional bids.

@Bellatrix I like your answer very much and it makes sense to me in my life.

Thank you Faye. Appreciate the feedback.