
These High School Sweethearts Have Kept Their Love Alive For Nearly 15 years

High school is one of the best moments of your life. You're young, carefree, and the world is literally at your fingertips.
While some of us use this as a time for exploration on all things professional to romantic, others luck up early on and discover just what they want out of life pretty much before the "real world" hits. As for these highschool sweethearts, Dani and TJ Byerson, it didn't take long after being introduced to each other, for them to know they were meant to be together.
These two met at a random afternoon park outing with friends. While they were both there just as tag-alongs for the other people they were with, in reality, this initial meeting would be the beginning of the first and last romantic relationship they would ever know.
The second TJ laid eyes on his now wife, Dani, he knew he had to make a move. And he did just that! The two began their relationship that summer and have now been together for 14 years. From teenage love, to college, to now being parents to a beautiful baby girl, the Byersons show that true love knows no age limit, and finding your soulmate in high school is indeed possible.
While some may believe puppy love is just something you experience while you're young and not actually real, the Byersons prove otherwise, and show how their young love has grown throughout the years.
But I know you're wondering, after all these years how does one still keep the love alive right? After all, they are both each other's one and only romantic partner.. EVER! How did they do it? "Communication! We talk to each other about what it is we want both romantically and sexually. We explore all of our wants and needs, always," Dani shared.
These two have taken the power of their communication and love story to create their own podcast entitled The Lovers Quarrel Show where they get real about marriage, parenting, and everyday life. While they know their relationship is far from perfect, communication continues to keep their love thriving and they just want to help other couples get better at communicating and problem solving as well. It's what has led these high school sweethearts to build a life together throughout these 14 years, and their love journey is just getting started.
This is their journey.
The One
Dani: I knew he was the one by how dedicated and committed he was to seeing us go the distance. You don't meet young men who are convinced of who they want to spend their life with, with such conviction. He loved me and respected me and wanted to be with me.
"You don't meet young men who are convinced of who they want to spend their life with, with such conviction."
TJ: Everybody loving her, my friends, family, and myself. Dani is an amazing spirit. She is a great conversationalist, and she is intelligent enough to speak in any setting. But the defining moment was when I had the ring purchased and we had a big argument a few days before I was set to propose. That argument could've changed my mind to proposing but it didn't. That's when I knew that this was forever.
Lessons In Love
Dani: Marriage is not a job, but it is WORK. But in loving one another, I am always willing to dust myself off and get back to working at it. Because I love him, and he loves me.
TJ: Make sure you are friends first. Dani and I were friends. So our relationship was built on our friendship. Make sure you can be friends with the person you love and plan to marry.
Deepest Fears
Dani: My biggest fear walking into marriage was how would things change? We had been together so long but were also so young, and I wondered how things would be different (in both the good and bad sense). The fear of the unknown did linger a little. However, I let that fear go by understanding that TJ and I had faced so many unknowns before this and came out stronger and for the better as a couple. So I knew marriage would be no different.
TJ: I had no fears. She was the one, I was ready. I had the perfect woman and I wasn't letting her go. My only fear would've been to lose her.
"I had the perfect woman and I wasn't letting her go."
Building Together
Dani: Some of our early challenges were adjusting to living together, alone. All the years prior, we lived together we had roommates as well, so no "buffer" of sorts when he and I were on the outs. I also realized how "not handy" TJ was around the house. I'd like to think I'm more of a "Mrs. Fix It" than him. (laughs)
TJ: We lived together before we were married, but me being junky is probably her biggest pet peeve along with my shopping habit.
Learning Each Other's Love Language
Dani: I think it was enlightening to have evidence of the differences between TJ and I as far as what love language we speak. It put into words that we feel loved in very different ways, which is truly validating. But, it took time to understand each other's love language and how to convey that type of love to each other. So often, we express love in the way that we wish to receive it, and then end up disappointed at the lukewarm reception we get as a result. But, like with many things, TJ and I get better with time and understanding and conveying love in a language that each other would truly appreciate.
"So often, we express love in the way that we wish to receive it, and then end up disappointed at the lukewarm reception we get as a result."
TJ: It's work, just like marriage. It's not a job but it is work. So we learned and relearned and communicated through the process.
Common Goals
Dani: We want to be happy and provide for our family in the best possible ways we can. Our purpose is to enjoy life while also being in service to others as well. Our individual goals serve that common goal in that they include obtaining a quality education, remaining continuously hard-working, and community service oriented.
TJ: Being the best versions of ourselves, providing a great future for our daughter and future children. We are working hard in our profession, educational, and everything else to better ourselves.
The Power Of Prayer
Dani: [In relationships] when things are good, pray. When things get tough, pray even more.
TJ: [In relationships] when things get hard you pray, the harder it is you pray harder. You have to be willing to work, it's not something you can give up on.
For more on their love story be sure to follow them at @Daniwrote and @Byerson4 or on their joint account @loversquarrelshow. Also be sure to tune into The Lovers Quarrel Show, for all things love, marriage and everyday life.
Ashley McDonough is a writer and producer in New York City. When she's not busy writing or producing culturally conscious content, she is patiently waiting for Oprah and Stedman to adopt her. Keep up with her journey via social @Ashley_Milani or check out her work on www.AshleyMcDonough.org.
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
A Celebration Of Black Voices: What You Missed At The 3rd Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival
Over the weekend, iHeart Radio held its third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival in Atlanta, attracting a star-studded lineup of personalities and shows. Charlamagne tha God, founder of the Black Effect podcast network was in attendance along with other notable personalities like Mandii B and Weezy WTF, the hosts of the popular Decisions, Decisions podcast, who also served as the festival's hosts.
Sarah Jakes Roberts, the esteemed pastor and host of Woman Evolve podcast, singers and co-hosts of the R&B Money podcast, Tank and J. Valentine, former NFL star and Funky Friday host Cam Newton and many more further rounded out the festivals' lineup.
The festival hosted panels that focused on mental health and the future of podcasting as well as many live shows. Good Moms, Bad Choices hosts, Erica and Milah, welcomed Dreka Gates and held a live dating show that was nothing short of hilarious. Naked Sports host Cari Champion sat down with Iman Shumpert and they discussed sports and dating.
Tank and J. Valentine surprised the audience with Jacquees, Cam had a live conversation with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams, and Sarah closed out the festival with reality star Toya Johnson. Check out photos from the festival below:
(L-R) Shawn Bethea, Jay Barnett, Devi Brown, Charlamagne tha God and Amber Grimes
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Jamilah Mapp, Dreka Gates and Erica Dickerson
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Mandii B and Weezy WTF
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Porsha Williams and Cam Newton
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Iman Shumpert and Cari Champion
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Tank, Jacquees and J. Valentine
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network