The Unexpected Side Effects of a New Relationship
I used to spend half my time enjoying a quiet night in and the other half painting the town red with the craziest people I could find. Then one day, someone came along whom I decided I’d like to be with and things started to change. There were the more obvious changes that everyone expects such as dinner dates and having the desire to actually spend time with someone for extended periods of time. I also discovered a few changes occurring that I didn’t predict. Here are some things that unexpectedly happen when you fall hard.
Your house gets a bit weird
These days, I am often confronted by the sight of rather large shoes at the front door. Also, strange things began to appear in my pantry. . . like food. My fridge has also fallen victim to this absurd venture. It’s almost as if someone who visits my apartment hopes to ensure I consume something that doesn’t come from a cardboard box. My apartment’s general appearance seems a bit different too; I regularly put my clothes away and wash my dishes. Weird.
You no longer want to spend time alone
I look back on those days with a happy feeling in my chest. I loved the time I had alone to write, read and spend way too much time browsing the far reaches of the Internet. These days though, I’d rather gnaw on my own arm than spend three weeks without him. Too bad he travels for work. Some days we both feel like we run the risk of spontaneously combusting if we don’t see each other. However, I’m happy to report that this perilous fate has yet to occur.
Secluded holiday destinations become your thing
While single, I thought of a holiday in the country as torture. I would have preferred to wear a matching tracksuit in public than spend my downtime driving through mountains and hiking scenic trails. Now, instead of spending my Christmas holidays in Vegas, I’m planning to visit Tasmania. What the f— has happened to me? Let me assure you, I have not been coerced into this idea. I actually want to go there to see, like, wineries and mountains.
Being ready to go home at any time
Sure, going out is awesome and it’s great to catch up with people but you never find yourself saying you’d like to stay out a bit longer. There’s always something waiting for you at home – you know what.
You become ‘that girl’
It’s usually something like ‘that girl who texts her boyfriend while she’s out’ or ‘that girl who communicates with her boyfriend via Instagram.’ Any lovebird behavior you detested when single, you now understand. Be warned, you may actually start performing these behaviors—including becoming ‘that jogging couple’.
So what’s next? I suppose, as always, time will tell. Will my dignity suffer an untimely death when I become part of a couples’ Facebook account? Perhaps I’ll spend my Sunday mornings trawling through produce aisles and sniffing roses at a farmer’s market. At this point, the only thing I can be sure of is this: even though some of these changes seem rather disconcerting, it’s a happy ending for this sardonic, independent lady.
Kirra Jarman lives in Brisbane, Australia. She spends her days writing and dreaming of new hairstyles for her cat. I’m sure you’ll agree, her life sounds incredibly interesting. You can follow her many adventures by checking out her blog or Instagram @_prettylife_.
