Tip #18

Choose your Omens.

Romantic comedies love to have omens peppering relationships, harking in advance whether a couple is destined to doom or fail. If you'll remember the 2001 John Cusack movie Serendipity, the audience can tell Lars and Sara's relationship is doomed when the ring he proposes with doesn't fit on her finger.

Life does not work like this.

There are signs indicating a failing relationship, yes. But they're things like: she's become a different person since meeting him and isn't being true to herself or he's had to give up things he loves because she demanded it. These signs indicate a lack of chemistry between two people and are based in real conflicts.

If the ring doesn't fit your finger when he proposes, it's probably because he didn't know how to get your ring size from you without spoiling the surprise.

And if you somehow lose your engagement ring someday, it doesn't mean it's a sign your relationship will fail. Because your relationship should be based on more than goddamn symbolism.

Spending your entire relationship looking for omens to tell you whether your romance is doomed to fail or destined to last for eternity means you've forgotten that your relationship is in your hands. If you want your romance to last forever then you're going to have to work for it.

Let me be frank. If you're looking for mystical or God-sent omens to tell you if your relationship is doomed or destined, then you are avoiding the responsibility of your relationship.