Imperfecting

I confess I am prone to overreacting, whether it be to something slightly good or slightly bad. This of course applies to the dating context, where my tendency to overreact is compounded by my insecurity & neurosis. (Example, my entry from last Friday.) At any rate, I re-realized that at the beginning of every courtship, each individual must adjust and adapt to each other's idiosyncrasies. My last long-term relationship might have ended in 2003, but it began in 2000. So it's been six years since I've been in the beginning of a courtship. I forgot how as the months progress, each person learns the quirks of the other, whether they be endearing or annoying. Some quirks must be accepted as they are; others can be changed.

I don't want to be The Nag, but there are a few things about the Guy that bother me, and I suspect they are a function of his age. For example, we rented a movie the other day. As soon as we sit down on the couch to watch it, he gets up, logs onto his computer, and starts playing internet games. I asked, "Aren't you going to watch the movie with me?" He replied, "I can watch the movie and play the game at the same time." It struck me as odd that he would invite someone over his place, rent a movie, and then leave his guest on the couch to watch the movie alone while he sat at his desk to play internet games. Instead of nagging, I decided to be more diplomatic. I sat on his lap, reverently held his hand, leaned into him and said "I'm kidnapping you to the couch. I want you all to myself," to which he complied.

The Guy's behavior also leads me to believe that he hasn't been in a serious long-term relationship before (I haven't asked yet). There are just some things you learn about women only through experience, real experience, not just fleeting encounters or month-long relationships.

Certainly, I know I have issues of my own (as outlined in the first paragraph). I know I need to get a grip sometimes, avoid overanalyzing trivial things, and stop being so spoiled & bratty, to name a few.

We all have our quirks. After all, nobody's perfect. I suppose relationships are about making sure each of our imperfections line up with the other's imperfections ... perfectly.