I’ve realized you can only rant and rave so much before people get tired and want you to stop talking about what’s wrong and start talking about how to fix it.
So rather than ranting about the disrespect that some people show to their partners, how about we talk about how much we love, respect and admire our partners. I’ll go first.
I love the way M takes care of me when I’m sick. He tucks me in and gets me books, drinks and food. I admire his intelligence and practicality, and the way he applies it. I complained about my tube of toothpaste, because there’s a new flip-cap on the kind I normally get, and I was struggling to open it. He examined it for a moment and then used a nail clipper to file away at the inside, making the clasp a little looser and therefore much easier to open. I also respect him for his opinions and preferences. He’s generally a little more easy-going than I am, and I really appreciate the balance.
What do you love about your partner? If you’re single, what do you love about your housemate, close friend or parent?
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April 21, 2010 at 4:30 pm
theadventurousone
About the Knot…. I told you so!
The question you ask is a dangerous one, since I could go on forever and in extreme detail about T’s good qualities. It’s what I DO…it’s how I cope with having a long distance relationship; I have an ongoing dialogue in my head about why exactly I love him so much.
He has a very strong sense of self- I love that about him. Yet he keeps an open mind, and is interested in learning new things. He’s analytical and logical- and very very organized. But greater than any of those things is his overwhelming kindness to everyone around him.
This week I was missing the fact that he bugs me. Constantly. His conversation is littered with traps, tests, verbal games and convoluted references, always a challenging thought or provoking sentence. He delights in pushing people’s buttons, or saying surprising things to challenge a common way of thinking. His razor sharp mind is his greatest attraction, and when I go without talking to him for a while, regular conversation seems dull by comparison.
It’s like being constantly poked with a sharp stick- he keeps me on my toes, testing my boundaries, and keeping things fresh, surprising, or funny. Yet he never tries to hurt or anger anyone deliberately, and will instantly stop if I ask him. He is completely honest, but always has my best interests at heart, so I trust him to state his opinion bluntly. He is worthy of my trust, and worthy of my love. And nobody makes me laugh as much as he does!
It is the greatest satisfaction of my life that my partner is such a zesty, vibrant, unusual individual, and if you want more information than that, I can certainly provide it!
Love,
Jasmine
April 22, 2010 at 9:38 am
M
You have a strong sense of wanting to do right by me, which I really appreciate. You have strongly-held opinions and views, but they are so for good reasons. You neither capitulate to me (I don’t think) nor ask me to do the same for you, but you engage in our discussions, questioning me and allowing me to question you. You have a self-awareness that I really admire, and aren’t afraid to re-raise a topic a day or two later when you have had a new insight or a revised opinion about it. You support my wacky projects and occasional successes, but I can still be honest with you about my many failings and weaknesses.
You don’t deliberately try to change me or put pressure on me, and yet, just by the way you are, I feel motivated to be a better person—I am a better person for knowing you at all, and a much better person for the depth and extent of our relationship. I would be very different man today and in a very different place, were it not for that fork in the road two years ago.
And I love that you are beautiful. You are playful and cheerful and clever and generous, and your smile lights up my day. Happiness is not the point of marriage, but it is a nice side benefit, and you make me a very happy man, Tara.
April 22, 2010 at 9:44 am
Tara
*melts*
April 22, 2010 at 9:46 am
Tara
Thank you, Jasmine and Mike! Warm fuzzies all around.
To all my other wonderful readers, I was serious when I said to comment about people you love in non-romantic ways, too!
We all have people we love. Maybe they’ll read this and maybe they won’t, but let’s spread that loving feeling around!
What makes the special people in your life special?
April 22, 2010 at 11:17 am
I love you because you’re special to me… « Faith, Hope and Love
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April 22, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Megan
I’m tearing up reading all of this lovliness about love
Here are some of my loves:
I love that my husband makes me laugh, always manages to find my hand to hold, is patient with me in my craziness, encourages me in all things, and is an example to me of someone who stands by their beliefs with a quiet and unwavering faith. When he’s not around I miss him, and can’t wait til he comes home to share about my day and hear about his.
I love that my best friend is always ready for a fun adventure, can sense when I need to talk about something, and will stand behind me no matter what, but isn’t afraid to challenge me either. We always have a riot together and I know that we’ll be crazy old ladies together one day!
I love that my sister and I have grown close as we’ve grown older together, and that she is someone I can confide in, sympathize with, and relate to. She always has interesting things to share and good advice to offer. I look up to her as an example of a great friend, daughter, wife, and social worker.
May 13, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Christine
Strider helps me be a better person. He puts up with me when I’m being cranky, or lazy, or just incomprehensible, but he lets me know that it frustrates him, so I know that I should change. But I also know that he’ll love me either way.