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Love can be such a sad and weary game to play. We struggle between an uncontrollable desire to make things work and nudging our egos up to the point we burn out.

Paradoxically, it’s never been so easy to feel this lonely in the age of dating apps when your love interest is available a swipe away. So we all need a gentle reminder not only for a dentist’s visit, but also so that we know that true love exists and that we all deserve it.

And for this reason, Bored Panda has compiled some of the most beautiful and heartwarming couple posts to lift up our spirits. Most importantly, it’s little things that seem to keep the flame burning, like a plastic cockroach you've put into each other's shoe for the past 20 years or playing Mario Kart over a cup of tea since 2001.

#1

Marie's Family Abandoned Her After She Married Jake, Her True Love In 1948. They're Still Happily Married For Over 70 Years Through The Power Of Love

Marie's Family Abandoned Her After She Married Jake, Her True Love In 1948. They're Still Happily Married For Over 70 Years Through The Power Of Love

Her dad told her, "If you marry that man you will never set foot in this house again." Mary soon learned that most people felt the same way. The first years of their marriage living in Birmingham were hell - no one would speak to them, they couldn’t find anywhere to live because no one would rent to a black man, and they had no money. But they didn't give up.
 
Gradually life became easier. Mary got teaching jobs, ending up as a deputy headteacher. Jake worked in a factory and then got a job at the Post Office. Slowly they made friends, but it was difficult. Mary used to tell people, "Before I invite you to my home... My husband is black." Some would never talk to her again.
 
Last year they celebrated their 70th anniversary and they are still very much in love, and never regretted what they did.

Keith Anderson Report

#2

91 Year Old Vivian Boyack Marrying Her Girlfriend Alice Dubes After 72 Years Of Relationship

91 Year Old Vivian Boyack Marrying Her Girlfriend Alice Dubes After 72 Years Of Relationship

Corbis Images Report

To find out what lifelong healthy relationships have in common and what we could all learn from them, Bored Panda reached out to Lise Deguire, a clinical psychologist and author of “Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience From a Burn Survivor.”

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“Maintaining a lifelong healthy and loving relationship takes time, effort, and commitment,” the psychologist stated and continued: “Most relationships start off in the halo of romantic love, in which their partner is gorgeous, perfect, and never does anything wrong. But romantic love is just a phase, and it passes over time (usually 6 months to 3 years after moving in together).”

#4

Husband Spends 2 Years Planting Thousands Of Scented Flowers For His Blind Wife To Smell And Get Her Out Of Depression

Husband Spends 2 Years Planting Thousands Of Scented Flowers For His Blind Wife To Smell And Get Her Out Of Depression

soranews24.com Report

#6

Every Day My Parents Play Mario Kart 64 To See Who Will Make A Cuppa Tea. They’ve Done This Religiously Since 2001

Every Day My Parents Play Mario Kart 64 To See Who Will Make A Cuppa Tea. They’ve Done This Religiously Since 2001

bork1138 Report

Lise explained that as soon as romantic love has passed, “the real couple's work begins. People need to learn to be good listeners, to be empathetic toward their partners, to lessen their own emotional reactivity, and to be respectful, even during times of disagreement.”

“All this takes a lot of work, and frankly, most people were never taught how to be a good communicator.” In fact, “many couples would benefit from seeing a certified marriage therapist, to provide coaching, help and support,” Lise said.

#7

This Vietnamese Couple Has Been Married For 70 Years

This Vietnamese Couple Has Been Married For 70 Years

corgems Report

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When asked about the concept of “true love,” which is so widely popularized by TV and media, Lise said that the whole concept of it is really nothing but “a holdover from the romantic love phase, discussed above.”

“Surely there are people that are naturally great partners for us, people who share our values, who make us laugh, who are attractive to us. But there is probably more than one person in the whole world with whom you can be happy. And again, romantic love is a blissful time, but it truly is just the beginning phase of a lifelong commitment,” the clinical psychologist and award-winning book author concluded.

#10

This Is Who I Married

This Is Who I Married

I was painting my nails and made a comment that I forget I don't have to paint my pinky nail on my left hand. I simply forget that I lost my pinky, but it is always kind of a bummer when I am reminded. Matt said "I will be your surrogate pinky. You can paint my pinky to match your nails for the rest of our lives"
And so we did...
I cannot imagine a sweeter, kinder man. No words adequately describe our love.

reddit Report

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#12

My Mom And I Went To Safeway To Get Some Groceries And We Ran Into My Dad Buying Flowers For Her

My Mom And I Went To Safeway To Get Some Groceries And We Ran Into My Dad Buying Flowers For Her

Vexfreeze Report

#13

Howard Foster And Myra Clark Reconnected And Married More Than 45 Years Later After Racism Forced Them Apart. They Now Hold Hands While They Fall Asleep Every Night

Howard Foster And Myra Clark Reconnected And Married More Than 45 Years Later After Racism Forced Them Apart. They Now Hold Hands While They Fall Asleep Every Night

Myra Clark , Myra Clark Report

#14

Quarantine Doesn’t Stop Husband From Supporting His Wife During Her Chemo Treatments

Quarantine Doesn’t Stop Husband From Supporting His Wife During Her Chemo Treatments

"No visitors allowed for Chemo due to the virus but that didn’t stop Albert L. Conner! Thank you for all your continued love and support."

Kelly Harrell Conner Report

#15

60 Years On And My Grandad Still Looks At My Granny With So Much Love

60 Years On And My Grandad Still Looks At My Granny With So Much Love

lucyvlt Report

#16

They Were Surfing On An Ironing Board In A Rain - Now I Understand The Importance Of Finding Someone To Grow Old With

They Were Surfing On An Ironing Board In A Rain - Now I Understand The Importance Of Finding Someone To Grow Old With

Forrison_Hard Report

#17

Proud Dads

Proud Dads

terrell.and.jarius Report

#19

He Was Dirt Poor, She Was Rich. Her Family Threatened To Disown Her If She Married Him

He Was Dirt Poor, She Was Rich. Her Family Threatened To Disown Her If She Married Him

She decided she loved him more than any inheritance and went on to marry him and have two kids. He loved her so much he died holding her hand. Ladies and gentlemen, my grandparents.

mrsboucher- Report

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#20

My Mom Fast Asleep And Holding My Dad's Arm About 30 Minutes Before He Passed Away. I've Never Shared This Photo Before, But Thought It Was A Great Picture Of True Love

My Mom Fast Asleep And Holding My Dad's Arm About 30 Minutes Before He Passed Away. I've Never Shared This Photo Before, But Thought It Was A Great Picture Of True Love

Tazmerican Report

#21

The Coolest Couple I Know 1972 / 2019

The Coolest Couple I Know 1972 / 2019

"He was in law school, so he needed a reader (the university provides them, for the visually impaired). She was his reader. They became friends, and then..."

Detroitaa Report

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lsoo avatar
Raine Soo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are cool, and beautiful. They look as if they've barely aged.

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#22

This Is True Love

This Is True Love

The story behind this picture of my grandparents: They have been married for over 60 years. My grandmother is suffering from dementia and has recently had a stroke. But as soon as he walked in she said “that’s my boyfriend Willis” and he laid there with her.

intellectualimagery Report

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#27

Smart

Smart

My_Memes_Will_Cure_U Report

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veni_vidi_vicky avatar
Vicky Zar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so very sweet and important. Not everyone can express love by saying the words, for whatever reason.

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#28

We Were In A Long Line At The Grocery. This Man Said He Had To Go Use The Restroom, But Instead He Secretly Bought Flowers For His Wife And Hid Them Behind His Back

We Were In A Long Line At The Grocery. This Man Said He Had To Go Use The Restroom, But Instead He Secretly Bought Flowers For His Wife And Hid Them Behind His Back

iteachonmars Report

#29

The Couple On The Woodstock Album Cover, Still Together 50 Years Later

The Couple On The Woodstock Album Cover, Still Together 50 Years Later

jmlevinemd.com , Burk Uzzle Report

#30

Candid Shots Show A Victorian Couple From The 1890s Who Cannot Help But Laugh When Getting Their Picture Taken

Candid Shots Show A Victorian Couple From The 1890s Who Cannot Help But Laugh When Getting Their Picture Taken

imgur Report

#33

I Have Covid And My Fiancee Leaves Food For Me And Then Sits In The Hallway So We Can Eat Together. Tonight I Got Surprise Hot Cocoa

I Have Covid And My Fiancee Leaves Food For Me And Then Sits In The Hallway So We Can Eat Together. Tonight I Got Surprise Hot Cocoa

alittleredportleft Report

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Sum Guy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Covid is a horrible thing to get... for a lot of people, it showed how much people still cared for each other. How far they would go for each other

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#36

Two Of My Clients, A Couple Who Have Been Together For Over 40 Years, Found Out That I Like Ducks. So They Stopped By My Office For The Sole Purpose Of Bringing Me Every Duck They Owned

Two Of My Clients, A Couple Who Have Been Together For Over 40 Years, Found Out That I Like Ducks. So They Stopped By My Office For The Sole Purpose Of Bringing Me Every Duck They Owned

cochrane0123 Report

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#37

Couple At Woodstock 48 Hours After They Met And 50 Years Later

Couple At Woodstock 48 Hours After They Met And 50 Years Later

PBS Distribution , Ben Trivett Report

#38

Awesome

Awesome

uhhhell Report

#39

My Dad Was Admitted To The Hospital Right Before Christmas. We Didn't Know If He Would Make It Home At All And Especially Not For Christmas

My Dad Was Admitted To The Hospital Right Before Christmas. We Didn't Know If He Would Make It Home At All And Especially Not For Christmas

This is my parents slow dancing to "I'll be home for Christmas" on Christmas Day.

king12807 Report

#40

Husband And Wife Getting Wholesomely Weird When No One Is Watching

Husband And Wife Getting Wholesomely Weird When No One Is Watching

f__h Report

#42

Today My Wife Is Officially Under 200 Lbs And I Was Finally Able To Do A Chin Up For The First Time In My Life

Today My Wife Is Officially Under 200 Lbs And I Was Finally Able To Do A Chin Up For The First Time In My Life

3995346 Report

#43

To Scare Your Boyfriend

To Scare Your Boyfriend

i-shot-the-sheriff Report

#44

Elderly Man Learns To Do Wife's Makeup Before She Turns Blind

Elderly Man Learns To Do Wife's Makeup Before She Turns Blind

"Why I love my job so much! Meet Jean and Brian two of our very loyal customers, Brian was in for another makeup lesson today as he does his wife's makeup every day as she is going blind, such a wonderful couple who live their life to the full!"

itsscottsummers Report

#45

83 & 84-Year-Old Couple Model Clothes Forgotten At Their Laundry Shop In Taiwan

83 & 84-Year-Old Couple Model Clothes Forgotten At Their Laundry Shop In Taiwan

wantshowasyoung Report

#46

This Canadian Couple Got Married Twice

This Canadian Couple Got Married Twice

After nine months of their marriage, a huge pole dropped on the lady's head, causing her a head injury which further resulted in a memory loss. She had no idea who he was and fell in love with him again. Two years later, they got married again.

laura.v.hart Report

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#47

My Wife Before And After Saying "I Love You"

My Wife Before And After Saying "I Love You"

1thepapa Report

#49

2020 Ain’t All Bad. I Asked This Handsome Fellow On The Right To Marry Me And He Said Yes

2020 Ain’t All Bad. I Asked This Handsome Fellow On The Right To Marry Me And He Said Yes

andmancan Report

#50

Game Shotgun

Game Shotgun

CherryBarbarian Report

Note: this post originally had 146 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.