Marriage is never 50% – 50%

Don’t ‘quit too soon’ on your relationship

Obama says she’s fascinated by how little our culture talks to young adults about what it means to partner with someone. So as they seek out romantic relationships, young people should ask themselves a few critical questions.

“What are you trying to get out of this relationship with this other person? Have you thought it through? Are you seeking a wedding or do you want a relationship? Those are two very different things,” she says.

She also wants young people to understand that being in a relationship also means making compromises with your partner, which isn’t always easy. Obama says she feels bad when people give up on relationships because of a period of disagreement or conflict. Her advice is to expect those “long stretches of discomfort.”