My partner and I see our relationship as running on an operating system.

When all is running smoothly, we barely notice it. It efficiently handles resource allocation and quietly runs applications (dance lessons, friendship development, work life). It operates as an operating system does on a computer. Without the operating system, the relationship has nothing on which to run.

How to Install a Relationship OS This will vary from couple to couple. Perhaps it starts with defining what you'd like the scope of the relationship to be. Later into the relationship, maybe it's a relationship health checkup. Defining what applications you'd like to run (a year from now, five years from now, fifty years from now) are all potential starting points.