Things I've Learned from Sweetheart

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I thought I'd pick out a few highlights:

1.) Athletic ability and academic ability are not mutually exclusive. 
Inconveniently, this refutes my often-used excuse for explaining why I’ve always been hopelessly terrible at sports. But apparently some people are so gifted.

2.) “Mutually exclusive” is an engineering term. 

3.) Boys will...
...pee anywhere and on anything. 
(No, this is not sex-related!)  A few weeks ago, I was stuck in traffic during my commute and I really, really needed to go to the washroom – but it took me over 2 hours to get home. After I arrived and did my business, I returned Sweetheart’s how-are-you text, hoping for some sympathy. Instead of sympathy, however, his response was along the lines of, “See? It’s much better being a guy. You can just whip out a water bottle and the problem would be solved.” EW*.

4.) Question everyone and everything. 
This sometimes frustrates the crap out of me because “everyone” includes me, so Sweetheart often questions what I say/do, too - but I’m coming to find the value in being skeptical. I’m naturally a very go-with-the-flow kind of person and Sweetheart…is not. When I hear “No” or “This won’t work” I’ll usually just accept it whereas Sweetheart will keep pushing for answers and questioning why things are the way things are. “Because someone somewhere said so/established this” is not enough or acceptable.  As a result of this, he’ll often manage to make things happen or even make things better.

5.) I can get along with people who have terrible taste in chocolate and bed linens.
This is significant because they're both things that I feel strongly about.  I never thought I could trust someone who doesn't like Maltesers!

6.) I don’t have to do everything myself. 
I’ve always been very independent. I’m used to and I like to do things on my own. But I’ve come to learn that it’s nice to be able to count on someone, to know that someone always has your back, and also to be depended on.

7.) A tall, grown man can live on a nearly exclusive diet of oatmeal gruel.
Amazing not just because of the lack of variety, but also because it's gross.   Additionally, he never washes his travel tumbler because he doesn't think it's necessary.  EWWW.  The fact that I've seriously contemplated washing it for him - actually putting my hand in that thing, with all the grainy, crusted bits on the side and the mushy, wet part on the bottom - is testament to how much I like him.

8.) Sincerity, earnestness, willingness, dependability, patience, honesty, and tenderness are what separates the men from the boys. 

9.) Good ones totally exist. <3

Happy Valentines Day!

*Also, there’s a hilariously adorable pee-related anecdote that took place during Sweetheart’s childhood that he would hate me for posting.  It reinforces the fact that boys will pee anywhere and on anything, but for the sake of our relationship, I will not publish it. :P