Life Sharing Relationships

I consider this page the most personal on this website. My life is a whirlwind, a symphony of work, kid wrangling, and keeping a life-sharing relationship afloat. And amidst this symphony, free time is a rare, precious solo that barely gets a chance to play.

After a long day, sleep usually beats me to the punch, but tonight is different. Tonight, my thumbs are going rogue, tap-dancing over my phone, spilling out this torrent. I hope to keep on it until I'm bare and empty.

These aren't just random synapses firing off. They are ideals — grand, noble, and a bit intimidating. Do I live up to them? Not even close. I stumble and fall flat on my face more often than I'd care to admit. But you know what? I keep trying.

Why? Because these are the real deal. They ring true to me, And I'll keep trying until the Big Sleep claims me, because an honest fail is better than a fake win.

Ideals

• Seek out who embraces the raw, unfiltered essence of you.
• Abandon the quest for a missing half; you are already a complete entity.
• After passion is gone, something must thrive in its place.
• If your partner isn't your best friend, consider replacing it with them.
• You don't need to like the same stuff. Again, you are not the same person.
• Living with someone is a dance of give and take, a subtle negotiation of commitments.
• Cherish solitude and let it nourish your individuality. It will make the time spent together more valuable.
• Do not let discord fester; set aside time to examine and mend the fractures.
• Iterate over it until the conflict (or the relationship) is over.
• Life must resonate like good music. Something must change if the sound of it is causing more pain than smiles.
• Even if you disagree, you should do your best to agree if it's important to the other party. The magic happens when they mirror your actions.
• Think hard about what the other is going through. You may be surprised.
• Try not to stress them out. Hope for the same.
• Out of nowhere, life throws unexpected curve balls. Handling these may require even more concessions, like time and attention. Be prepared for them. Talk candidly about them to ensure you are both moving in the same direction.

Yes, the list is short. Most ideals are repetitions of two basic concepts: compromising and honestly sharing life's load. If you are trying to do it every day in some sense (and are being recognized for it), things should be on the right path.