Perfect Relationships

This routine is great when it's just the two of you, the atmosphere is calm and intimate, and you're communicating on a deep and intimate level, especially when the topic of relationships comes up and the sexual tension rises.

I have a theory about what makes a relationship between a man and a woman perfect. First of all, you need passion. That means there is a strong attraction between you and the man, when you feel drawn to him, you might even feel a pleasant warm sensation in your stomach, or even all over your body when you're with this man. You could lose track of time and completely give yourself over to him.

Next, you need intimacy. This means you feel an emotional connection with this man, as if you’ve known each other before, like you’ve always known each other. You feel comfortable around him and sometimes you can even feel it here, right in your heart.

Next, you need commitment. Philosophers call this a sense of duty. When you feel safe, knowing that the person next to you is here for you, that you both have chosen to be together... And that you can see yourself with him now and in the future.

So, all relationships are based on varying proportions of these elements. For example, if you only have passion but no intimacy or commitment, that's just lust. A one-night stand. Nothing less, nothing more.

If you only have intimacy, but no passion or commitment, then it's just friendship. And we all have friends...

If you only have commitment, but without passion or intimacy, then that's an empty relationship. Like many married couples. So sad.

When you have passion and intimacy but no commitment, it feels like a romantic infatuation and maybe something like “now or never,” and since you don’t have any guarantee it will continue, all that together can make the passion even stronger.

And you can have passion and commitment but without intimacy. That's when people are together because they really love having sex with each other.

And you can have intimacy and commitment but no passion. That's like between a grandma and grandpa who are together for company, but can't remember the last time they did it.

And of course, there’s the ideal—a balance. You can have exactly the right amount of passion, just enough intimacy, and just as much commitment. Yeah, now that I think about it, a little more passion would be wonderful. What do you think?