It is hard to believe that Greg and I have known each other for 25 years. We met in high school and managed to maintain a friendship throughout all those years, despite hundreds of miles of distance and various ill-suited personal relationships. The series of letters we wrote one another over the years catalog our personal growth, yearnings, and setbacks. We have been dating for a few years now and are very excited to be getting married in a couple of weeks!
At the risk of sounding cliché, it feels amazing to finally be in a relationship with the person who is just right for me, a soulmate. I feel that our needs are both equally met within the relationship – we share respect, affection, and trust. We understand each other’s emotional language and thoroughly enjoy one another’s company. We support each other’s goals and remain independent while maintaining a healthy union. Our life together is generally light-hearted and playful. We are both adventurous and a bit nerdy, taking every opportunity to slow down and soak in as much of this beautiful world as we can. The chemistry we share is intense and he makes me feel seen for the first time in my life.
Of course, no relationship is perfect. But when challenging conversations need to happen, we dig right in with patience and emotional maturity – nothing is left to stew over. We have both learned much over the years from passive-aggressive, codependent relationships; we understand how to maintain personal, healthy boundaries that allow our love to grow more every day.
Any self-doubts I may have had were cleared up by Isabella. One afternoon she started talking about how much she loved Greg, how she felt like she could tell him anything and just be herself around him. She said he was a great father figure and he felt like a dad to her. It was the confirmation I needed as a mother of the significant impact he has on the kids’ lives. Although Aiden is not as vocal about his feelings, it is clear he respects Greg and values his opinions. In many ways, my relationship with Greg has made me a better mother. Greg has a unique perspective when it comes to Aiden and Isabella and helps me to see them in new ways, which in turn improves our communications.
We both enjoy hiking, camping, and stargazing. We both love traveling and exploring new places together. Greg has shared his love of rock climbing, scuba diving, and sailing with me (things I had never previously experienced but am happy to be learning about)! We have gone sky diving and zip-lining together. Some mornings we sip coffee and work on crossword puzzles together. Some evenings, we read our favorite stories aloud or listen to Pink Floyd while we play Sequence. It doesn’t seem to matter what we get into – be it a complicated project or a comfortable, peaceful silence. Our time together feels effortless, gentle, and easy. We both wish that all people could experience something so profound.