While an older couple may enjoy the predictability of going to the same dinner every week for date night, they may also want to expand their horizons and go on a whole new adventure. This could be why many older couples rent RVs and travel the country together in order to have more spontaneity in their relationship. This can even be the case with younger couples, who may want to explore who they are individually while still remaining a couple. Overall, people generally desire both routine and change in their romantic relationships and relationships overall.
The longing for both the usual routine and spontaneity within relationships has been common among individuals since essentially the beginning of time. Press sources such as The Huffington Post have bloggers that even offer tips to “spice things up” with romantic partners.
Photo by Joe Lanman
In addition to romantic relationships, friends may tire of their usual routine or office workers may want to face new challenges within their jobs. However, these same people may want this routine more than change because they grow used to their everyday tasks and wish to fulfill their responsibilities properly.
The wish for novelty and predictability in relationships is part of relational dialectics, or “opposing forces, or tensions, that are normal in relationships” (Wood 200). Novelty is a new aspect to a relationship, as many believe that “without some element of surprise, the relationship may become boring and emotionally dead.” Predictability is a common pattern in a relationship.
It is important to realize that relationships need both familiar aspects and new elements to develop and remain strong. Readers hopefully see that a balance of these two things is essential to making relationships healthy.
Works Cited
Wood, J. (2010). Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters. (6 ed.). Boston:
Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
