Week #1 - Discussion #2

The relationship I am choosing to examine is the relationship between myself and my boyfriend.  I would say we have always been an I-You relationship, and for every relationship that I have had with a person has been an I-You relationship.  We met on a casual outing with mutual friends to Ikea and lunch.  That night he added me on facebook and we messaged back and forth, followed by exchanging phone numbers.  We spent about a week texting each other back and forth until he asked me to come over a couple times to his house to hang out, he asked me on a date, and a little over a year later were still poking fun at each other and enjoy each others company. 

Within the early stage of our relationship, and I would still consider things early for us, and we are still slowly but surely learning things about each other.  For example, just the other day (even though we have talked about this before and he doesn't remember) we talked about our learning styles.  I mentioned I was a horrible test taker and would prefer to write an essay or do projects and he was the polar opposite; would rather take a test vs write or work on a project.  We had very casual topics when we first started dating, and nothing too serious. We talked a lot about our hobbies, work, a little bit aout family and background and very light topics.  The longer we were together the more comfortable and safe I felt around him to where I could tell him more...I'm not the kind of person that tells everyone everything and was hurt previously in my other "relationships" but I was also a lot more sheltered and protective of myself.  There was a specific event last January when my Aunt passed away from cancer within a week and that entire time he did his best to be there for me and help me.  Even though I didn't want to talk, he was always there to open up and talk to me when I asked him or when I felt calm enough to discuss it.  Now, I feel like I can tell him almost everything. I feel that he is becoming my best friend and I can tell him anything that bothers me.  We can talk about almost anything now from maturer topics (ex previous sexual partners, relationships, family drama) or we can openly discuss our relationship and how we feel we are doing. I hav opened up and told him about some not so nice discussions my mom and I have had, my fears and hopes and dreams that I don't share with many other people.  I feel that our relationship has grown and we have been beneficial for each other....I get him out of the house more and he has taught me that I do not have to have eveyr moment of the day scheduled and its okay sit back and relax. 

We definitely have two different fields of experience and yet we can still find common ground.  For exmaple, he is an avid online videogame player.  I don't play games at all, but I will sit and watch.  I don't understand everything that happens but from my perspective I can appreciate the artistic value that goes into making a product like that.  When we watch the behind the scenes features for movies, he is surprised to see how many people it takes to make a movie and with my theatre background, I am able to educate him a little bit about everything that goes into making a production.  I think we are both good listeners, in a sense that we don't enjoy the same hobbies or have the same interests but we are open to hearing what the other has to say and will pay attention to each other. 

~Theresa