Facial Expressions

Scratching the 7 Year Itch

In a long term relationship, it seems like so much is at stake. The time and effort invested has shaped both individuals,  both visibly and psychologically. I often refer to myself as "we," reinforcing the idea that I am, in fact, a unit and not an individual. But then there is the urge to rebel. It's such a silly urge that goes against the very core of a union.  Perhaps it is a little leftover teenage cockiness, or maybe just a bad reaction to something you ate, but sometimes a need for independence creeps in, challenging the stability of that union. The urge to control, or micromanage seems not to be exclusive to managers and executives. The need to keep one another happy can be overwhelming sometimes, while the importance of the individual becomes less of a priority.
This is what my new work examines.

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What does it mean when someone is tied to another someone? How does that change over time? Why does it seem scary to think about how much you change as part of a partnership?