What It Really Means To Be There For Each Other

You find out a lot about your relationship when a tragedy strikes. It's never fun to mourn the death of a loved one, but we all likely will during our lifetime.

This past week, I've been working like crazy on the new shirt designs and all of a sudden I woke up feeling so sick. I spent the entire day trying to keep food down....which was a lost cause. Clayton took care of me all day and brought me crackers, water, Gatorade, you name it, he got it for me. That night, I was trying my best to get to sleep when I heard Clayton's phone ring. Just by the sound of his voice, I knew that his great grandma had passed.

Once he was off the phone, I hugged him so hard and told him everything would be okay. I also told him that his great grandma was in a better place now and was no longer suffering. He just hugged me. As sick as I was, I put everything about myself aside and made sure HE was okay. Was I having a good day? No! Was I feeling better? No! Did I want comfort from him? Yes! But it was my turn to comfort him and be there when he needed me.

Small Gestures

I know that me being sick and getting over that to be there for Clayton may seem trivial, but to me it is a small part of a larger picture. Being there for your significant other is one of the most important gestures in a relationship. Being there to listen, to comfort, to just hold their hand, can make all the difference in their day. You don't have to always be bending over backwards for them in order to show you care. I gave Clayton a hug when I heard the news...and that gesture made all the difference that night. I was also able to put aside my "minor" grievances and pay attention to what really mattered in that moment.