Red flags in relationships.

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I’ve only been in one relationship in my life, but somehow, I’ve had the chance to observe and experience things that have made me understand what to look out for in a relationship. The thing with relationship, is that a lot of people normally see the red flags in their partners but choose to ignore them, only to regret it later when things start falling apart. Red flags are not just little issues—they are signs of what’s to come. If you ignore them, you might just be setting yourself up for a painful experience.

For me, the biggest red flag ever is domestic violence. The moment a person raises their hand to hit their partner, that’s already a sign of danger. I personally believe that any guy who can physically assault a woman is a coward, and the worst part is that if he does it once, he will most likely do it again. I’ve heard stories of people staying in abusive relationships, hoping their partner will change with time, but the sad reality is that most of them don’t. Many have ended up with serious injuries, and some have even lost their lives because they kept holding on to a love that was slowly destroying them. No matter how much you love someone, the moment they hit you, that’s your cue to leave. No one deserves to live in fear of the person they claim to love.

Another red flag for me is secrecy. I cannot be in a relationship with someone who hides things from me. If we’re together, I want us to be open with each other. I want to know about your life, your past, your struggles—everything. It’s not about invading your privacy, but I need to know that I’m with someone who isn’t keeping major things from me. Imagine dating someone and then randomly finding out they have a child, something they never mentioned to you. It’s not even about the child—it’s about the fact that they hid something so important. It makes me wonder what else they could be keeping from me. A relationship should be built on honesty. If I have to keep guessing or digging to find out the truth, then something is wrong.

Then there’s the issue of not taking corrections. Nobody is perfect, and I don’t expect my partner to be. But when I bring up something that’s bothering me or something that’s clearly a problem, I expect them to at least listen and make an effort to improve. If someone refuses to acknowledge their mistakes or gets defensive every time I try to talk about an issue, then communication becomes a problem. And once communication is gone, the relationship is as good as dead. Growth is important in any relationship, and if a person is not willing to learn or adjust when necessary, things will eventually fall apart.

At the end of the day, red flags are warnings, but too many people ignore them because they are in love or believe things will get better with time. I’ve learned that it’s better to walk away early than to stay and regret it later. A relationship should bring peace, not pain. If you see the signs, don’t ignore them. They are there for a reason.

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