There is no formula or equation to make a relationship work. Every single relationship is different and sometimes, even when you try your best, you won’t succeed (excuse my awful Coldplay reference. I just had to).
However, when it comes to love, age tends to be a big factor. Some say it is best to be involved with someone your age, while others think an age gap is quite acceptable, even helpful.
When two people of the same age are in a relationship together, it can be argued that they’ll relate better to each other. They’ll be facing the same challenges, in school, socially, or in the workplace. Supposedly, they’ll be more understanding of each other’s situations in life.
When we look at the other side of the story, those in a relationship with an age gap can also work out well because they are more removed from each other. If one partner is still in school, while the other has graduated, they’ll have their own separate lives, which really works for some people. That separation can also be a major downfall.
“[My boyfriend’s] insight was reassuring because I knew he knew what he was talking about. His experience made my transition through high school a lot easier than it would have been otherwise,” Zarin Tasnim, a first-year economics student at Laurier said.
Nevertheless, each relationship has its ups and downs. While Tasnim was starting university, her boyfriend Phil had graduated and was busy looking for jobs.
“After a long day, Phil would be tired and frustrated. I couldn’t relate to his struggles and I was under a lot of pressure myself.”
Clearly, being able to empathize is a key factor to being in a successful relationship. You also has to be careful to not lose your individuality; it becomes really easy to be completely reliant on the life you have with the person you are with.
There is no steadfast way of making relationships work. Unfortunately, there isn’t. At the end of the day, it all comes down to how badly two people want to make it work. So if you really think the other person is worth it, stop making pro-con lists, and just go for it.
The phrase, “age is just a number” sounds so cliché, but age doesn’t define your experiences or how good of a partner you can be.