9 traits of a partner who will stick by your side for life 1. Knows how to communicate Let’s start with great communication skills Are they someone you can open up to? Can you talk about anything under the sun? Do they work with you when you need to discuss an issue or resolve a conflict? For a relationship to go the distance, there must be a real connection. And that won’t happen without the willingness to communicate. 2. Empathy Another trait that would indicate someone has what it takes to stick by your side is empathy. This goes hand