Partnership and independence

Here are some thoughts which centre around some specific questions about each person in the couple and about them together as a couple; in particular, ``independence to do what?'' and ``partnership for what?''. (I know it may seem odd to be ``scientific'' about relationships, but given the intelligence to think rationally through things, you'd be letting yourself and everyone else down if you didn't!) So you get the questions:

What do I want from independence?
What do I want from partnership?
What do they want from independence?
What do they want from partnership?

and then:

How does my want for independence conflict with my want for partnership?
How does my want for independence conflict with their want for partnership?
How does their want for independence conflict with my want for partnership?
How does their want for independence conflict with their want for partnership?

If you feel you can answer all those (honestly and fairly, without even the slightest bit of dodging any issues that make you uncomfortable!) you're doing well, I think!

I haven't gone through them systematically yet myself, but I will soon; I know what I think my answers on some of them are!

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For other essays, see the index to this collection; and for some other thoughts, my thoughts index.

Last modified: Sun Jun 10 22:28:51 GMT Daylight Time 2007