When
you're truly in love with your partner, maintaining your own separate
identities can become something somewhat of a challenge. How do you
show your sweetie that you're interested in learning about his passions
without abandoning your own? Walking the tightrope between boyfriend
superfan and indifferent girlfriend can be tough, but it's important
not to lose sight of what makes you unique when you're dating a new guy
- no matter how into him you are.
The key to maintaining your own identity in a relationship lies in continuing to follow your passions. Instead of giving up what you love to focus on your boyfriend's interests, invite him into your world and try to get him excited about the things you love. If your boyfriend is a huge basketball fan, try getting him tickets to a game with you - in exchange for him agreeing to accompany you to your favorite art museum. He'll love getting to teach you about his team's best players, while you can share you passion for painting with him over a timeless Monet piece at the gallery.
Okay, so you might never become the world's biggest Kobe fan and your boyfriend might not take to watching old Bob Ross videos and painting your likeness in oils. But most solid relationships have a place for the participants to escape to - those activities they can on their own, so they don't lose sight of their individuality. Embrace your boyfriend's interests, but continue to follow your own - you'll both be better off for it in the long run.
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