Respect in a Relationship: It’s Everything! BY JACKIE PILOSSOPH Founder, Divorced Girl Smiling, Former Chicago Tribune Columnist and Features Reporter, Huffington Post Blogger and TV News Reporter What does it take to be happy in a romantic relationship ? Although every couple is unique, I think some of the biggies are: Friendship, trust, thoughtfulness, and attraction. But there’s one thing that is perhaps the most needed, and it’s the thing that is needed to have all of the other components to stay happy and healthy. What is it? RESPECT. Respect in a relationship drives everything else! What does Respect in a relationship mean? 1. Having respect for the person’s professional life. 2. Having respect for his or her parenting style. 3. Having respect for the way he or she takes care of him or herself—from the way they dress to they way they eat, exercise, stay healthy, and more. 4. Having respect for the way the other person treats YOU. 5. Respecting how he/she spends money. 6. Res...