After reading over this, separately, we came to the conclusion that we are unable to give individual advice because we found that we were repeating the same things that the other previously said. Instead, we decided for this advice post, we would do a shared response. Also, to whomever sent us this message, we apologize that we failed to reply to you, right away. 

Our Advice:

No one can tell you when it is time to leave. It is all within yourself. In my opinion though, if a person stops making you happy, you should talk to them and try to reevaluate your relationship. The thing is, in a relationship you won't always be in the honeymoon stage where everything is perfect 24/7. There will be rough times when you do not see each other often, have time to talk all day, or when you do not always see eye-to-eye. When you expose yourself to a relationship, you allow yourself not only to feel the good emotions, but to ensure the hardships as well. If you feel unhappy, then you should take it up with your partner and see what you both can do to fix this issue. If you really love this person and want to make it work, I'd say go talk to them and see what you both can do to fix this.

On the other hand, if you feel like your own personal safety is at risk, you should leave. No relationship is perfect, but not all relationships are meant to be, as well. You will go through relationship where they start off like a fairytale, but suddenly once you both get comfortable, you see a whole other side of the person you have never seen before. If you feel your emotional or physical safety or wellbeing is at risk, you have every right to leave.

Nevertheless, if you choose to leave, at least tell the other person why you left and the reason for why you were so unhappy. I find so many people run from a relationship without an explanation, and that causes for a horrible break-up.

Last night was the first time in a long time that Adam and I have had time to really talk. We obviously talk everyday all the time, but it has been a long time since we have had time to have deep conversations about life and the future. During that time, we talked about how much our relationship has changed. When we first started dating about a year ago, we used to talk to each other 24/7--despite the circumstances, we'd always make time for each other. Whether it was texting each other through class/work, hanging out every day, or going on dates frequently, we were spending a lot of time and money on each other. As time started to fly by, we started to spend less time talking or seeing each other and focusing on school and work.

This may seem bad for our relationship, but as we continued to talk about it, we realized there is so much goodness in our relationship. We noticed that once we realized and admitted that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, we stopped spending as much time together. As most couples would worry about this, Adam and I embrace it.

The truth of the fact is that regardless, we want to spend our lives together and we want a good future. We realize that without hard work and an education, we will not have the money to sufficiently provide for each other and for our kids, in the future. So once we discussed that we wanted to spend our lives together, we started to spend more of our physical time in working to make money and going to school to get an education. Despite it looking like we under-prioritize our relationship, all that we do is done with the main intent of creating a good future for each other.

Even though we do not have as much time to see each other, hang out, talk on the phone, text 24/7, and play video games with each other as often as we used to do, we show our love by working hard to make a great future for our relationship.

Nevertheless, when we do have free time, we reserve it for each other; but usually that free time is short. Adam works 5 days a week and I work 4 days a week plus am still in school. It is little things like an hour visit after work/school, our mornings, and our saturdates that really make the hard work worth the while. We may not see each other as often as we'd like to, but if working hard to make money for our future and spending time doing school work and going to class to get an education is what we are doing in the meantime, then it is totally worth it.

I love our relationship because we have shared goals we want to meet. We evenly work hard to make the relationship work, while working hard to plan for our future. It is reality we find that many couples do not realize. A relationship is not only about going on dates, spending time together and mutual feelings; if you want to make it last a lifetime, you need to realize that it is about learning to work together to provide for one another. All the dates and hanging out is fun and all; but if you do not have the means to provide in the future, the relationship will not thrive. If you want to have a future together, move out one day, have a luxurious wedding and have all the means to provide for children one day, you need money and a good career.

Sometimes it may seem difficult, especially when you are a teenager who is balancing working part-time, a relationship, school, family life, and a social life; but it is possible. We hear so many people say "I don't work during the school year because I am too busy with school" or "I don't want to work because I want to spend more time with [insert significant other's name here]" but personally, we do not believe in that. We are both full time students who go to school in the morning, work in the afternoon, and do homework after we get home from work. It all depends on your time management and how willing you are to work hard. Is it stressful? Of course it is, but no one said a good future would just come to you. You have to stay motivated and work hard to get what you want.

For us, what we want, is a good future where we have good jobs to build our own house, have a beach house in the Philippines, nice cars, and enough money to not worry about finances to provide for our family in the future. If we have to work hard now, that is what we'll do. We have our whole lives together--we have plenty of time to go on adventurous dates, spend time together, and talk to each other; but we do not have our whole lives to try to make a good living. We realize that if we fail to do it now, we may not get a second chance in the future and will regret it. Because of this, we mutually give up time together to try to work hard to plan for the future. This does not tatter our feelings for each other because we have enough trust in each other to know feelings will never fade. We are both working for each other--to bring stability and finances.

We do not feel insecure about the time not spent together because we know that in the end, it will benefit this relationship and our future. That is the best feeling--to know there is stability. If anything, working this hard for one another makes our love grow stronger. We are no longer looking out for just ourselves, but for each other. A lifetime relationship with another person is about protecting, loving and providing equally. We are just starting early, to show each other that we are serious about the future and this relationship.

Its an amazing feeling in a relationship.
We are not too busy for each other; but we make ourselves busy for each other. 

Jenn's Advice

If she had the nerve to cheat on you, she isn't worth your time. Everyone has this mind set in a relationship that "People Change" and "I can change this person"; but unfortunately, sometimes that isn't the reality. I know you love her, but, trust me, I can speak for both sides (being the girl who cheated AND being the person who has been cheated on) and I can honestly say she isn't worth your time. When she does it once, she'll do it again. I do believe people can mature, though. I used to be the kind of girl who was indecisive in relationships and break guys' hearts. But in my past two relationships, I have never cheated once. People can grow up. But at the same time, I have been the person who has been cheated on and accepted apologies from the same person over and over again hearing them say "I'll change" when they just took advantage of me over and over again. You have to decide on your own whether she is worth getting hurt over again and again. If she is, you need to set boundaries, open up communication, and try to learn to forgive her--if you accept her apology, you cannot use it against her later. But if she does it again to you, it just proves she is just playing with your heart and isn't worth the time. To have trust is to have a lot of tolerance; but if she takes advantage of that, maybe it isn't meant to be. Nevertheless, it wasn't a waste of time of a relationship. This relationship shows you what you like and dislike in a relationship and is a learning experience to look upon for future relationships so that you do not put yourself through the same situation again.

Adam's Advice

Honestly, that right there is proof enough that there is something missing in your relationship. If you want things to work out, find out what that thing is, and try to fix it. If you think there is no hope, you may have to break it off. If there is a thing missing from your relationship, but you cannot supply it for your significant other, you have to break it up. It is the harsh truth. Personally, I am a fighter, I will never go a day in my life without fighting for a reason. I would still fight because that is who I am, but if you cannot bring yourself to do that, then don't fight.  Tell them how you feel, and move on. There are somethings in life that you may not want to find out, and you can't bring yourself to try to find them out because you are afraid they will hurt you even more then you are now. Cheating is never a good thing, so maybe the relationship was not a good thing either. No relationship is worthless, you always come out of it with something new to add to yourself. Just keep that in mind. The right one will not just give you one thing to add to yourself, but many things for the rest of your days. Try to find the right one, because clearly if they cheat, they are not the right one.

Just because you are dating, and have been for a long time, does not mean you stop dating and doing cheesy things for each other, to keep the relationship alive.

Valentine's day is seen to be both a commercial holiday as well as a day of love. But because of this, many people, who have been in relationships for a long time forget that showing someone how much you love them is not only buying them flowers and chocolates and expensive gifts; but instead why not ask them to be your Valentine still? It keeps the relationship playful and alive.

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