What I know about love at the age of 26 and a half

Post-break-up, I've read a bunch of books and articles on relationships, observed other couples, and asked many couples questions on how to make it work.  This is what I understand about love so far, at the age of 26 and a half:

• There are no perfect people.  A relationship is 2 completely different people from 2 very different backgrounds, families, cultures.  Stop expecting perfection or magic.  It takes effort (lots of effort and attention!) to love each other and to maintain a loving relationship.  Lasting relationships require patience, understanding, forgiveness, tolerance, and compromise...lots of compromise.  Love is a long-lasting commitment to develop a relationship and your lives together.
• There are 3 entities in a relationship: you, me, and us.  Do the best for "us."
• Communicate your needs and genuinely try to understand and show concern for your partner's needs.  Be there for your partner when they're down, and try to find out what he needs.  Don't just settle for what you think he needs.  Keep asking and keep trying to find out what he needs.
• It's easy to get comfortable and start taking your partner for granted.  Keep working at it.  Express love and appreciation on a daily basis.  Always be grateful for everything your partner gives you.
• Keep serving your partner and do everything generously in love.  You get what you give. Be loving and be selfless.  
• Stop expecting something for every one thing you do.  Stop counting.  If you give love, you will get love.  Just wake up thinking about what one thing you can do to make your partner happy.  
• Be dedicated to your partner's personal growth.  Get to know your partner's interests, friends, and family and show you care.  Support your partner's dreams.
• Listen to the needs of your partner.  If you don't get it, keep asking or trying to find out.
• Break-ups are the last straw.  If you think your partner is worth it, try to make it work.  You will never be able to succeed at any relationship without persistence because relationships are never easy in the long-run.  Don't propose a break-up if you still want it to work.  Fight for your relationship.  Glory never comes without struggle.
• If it doesn't work the first time, separate, give yourself time to grow and learn from your mistakes.  Then build a new relationship either with someone new or build a new relationship with the same person.
• There is no question that you will have to compromise in a relationship.  Whether you compromise more or less will depend on how similar you and your partner are in your interests and likes.
• Be with someone who loves you, respects you, and thinks you're worth fighting for.
• Live for hope. Don't live in fear.
• "You get in life what you have the courage to ask for."  If you settle for less, you get less.

Destiny

“Destiny, I feel is also a relationship-a play between grace and willful self-effort. Half of it you have no control over, half of it is absolutely in your hands and your actions will show measurable consequences. Man is neither entirely a puppet of the gods, nor is he entirely the captain of his own destiny; he’s a little of both. We gallop through our lives like circus performers balancing on two speeding side-by-side horses-one foot is on the horse called “fate” the other on the horse called “free will”. And the question you have to ask everyday is, Which horse is which? Which horse do I need to stop worrying about because it’s not under my control, and which do I need to steer with concentrated effort?” ― Elizabeth Gilbert

To exploration, adventure, and new challenges

2014 Travels
January - Oakland and San Francisco
February - New Orleans, Louisiana
May - Portland and Seattle, Oregon
June/July - Europe

Thus far, I have:

• finished "Excel with Business" class
• listened to Primal Leadership on Emotional Intelligence
• listened to Lean In about women in leadership
• joined a book club
• Thanksgiving Las Vegas with family
• Las Vegas with college friends and EAPers
• hired a new CSR and in the process of training
• visited Marin Highlands with college roomies