Do Opposites Attract?

We have all grown up hearing the old phrase 'opposites attract'. Movies and fictional novels glorify the idea of a nonchalant boy paired with a bubbly extroverted girl, two people from completely different worlds who somehow balance each other perfectly. It does sound exciting right? But the real question is does it actually work in real life or is it just some feel good fantasy that have been fed upon us?

Well I feel like in the beginning, being with someone who is completely different can feel like going into a whole new world. You learn things that you were unaware of, understand the perspective from the other side. For the first few years it might be fun because there is always something to discover. Their quirks are considered charming and the contrasting personalities might feel like the puzzle pieces fitting together. This is a honeymoon phase of every relationship and it feels like everything will be great for the rest of your lives.

But then the reality kicks in and overtime those charming quirks can start to feel well, exhausting. The silence of a calm partner may suddenly feel like indifference. The energy of the extrovert partner may feel overwhelming. You start noticing the gaps and naturally you try to bridge those gaps. But here is the thing: that bridge is often build on compromise. While compromise is essential in any relationship, you feel like losing your real self when it becomes frequent. You might feel like you are the only one putting the effort. 

So, I feel like opposites do attract but it is really hard to sustain the relationship. Sustaining love takes compatibility, understanding and a lot of honest conversations.