do you ever feel like you put too much into a relationship and get no recognition for it?

Most of you who've read my previous blogs know of James and our... situation. Well, there's a problem. He's 8 years older than i am! I didn't realize this when i met him and likewise he thought i was much older than i am. So we discussed our concerns and came to a mutual agreement to stay strictly friends. it shouldn't be hard because we never really started a relationship but we both felt that that was where it was headed. So, that's good. i really enjoy his company and i think that we will have many years of memories in the future together... but it left me thinking of the few other relationships that i've been in and why they never work.

I've often been told that i put too much into trying to make my partner happy. I don't know if it's necessarily true. I mean... you have to work at a relationship but how hard should you have to work at being happy? If you are constantly feeling like you have to fight for your spot in that person's life is it worth it? You should be able to trust each other to go away with other friends without wondering if they are with another person who they might find more appealing than yourself. You shouldn't have to fight about whether to go to the movies or go for a hike. Whether to hit the trails on the dirtbikes or lye on the couch and watch tv.

If you aren't the type of girl who spends an hour in the morning to do your hair just to go get gtroceries why should you have to change?

i guess what i'm getting at is that i think too many people are settling for a half - assed happy relationship. We're still in high school! if you're fighting about little things already or you feel a bit un appreciated things are only going to get worse as time goes on. So why torture yourself? Move on and find someone who appreciates you, enjoy's the same activities as you do, and makes you feel special. I know that i'm not going to settle so why should anyone else? We're young and let's face it... at our age big age gaps do matter!

not trying to sound preachy... or like Dr Phil but it bugs me when i see people who are un happy but won't let themselves see the truth. Live life to the fullest. Don't settle for less than you deserve. We're only this age once. Enjoy it while we can!