BROADCASTS.com

Happy Valentine's Day, 2019!

My boyfriend, my partner, my lover, brings me joy every day.

Moments of joy is what keeps our love alive, strong, and enduring.

It\u2019s not about how much money either of us makes.

It\u2019s not about how often we have sex.

And it\u2019s not about how he looks.

"Love is about noticing joy in the presence of another person."Allan Downs, The Velvet Rage

The First Joy

I can\u2019t show you a picture of the one thing he does that brings me the most joy.

And it\u2019s not what you think you dirty fucker! :-)

Christiaan\u2019s laugh is infectious and often. We can be quietly sitting together at home, and without warning he starts laughing.

Quizzically I look at him. \u201cWhat are you laughing about?\u201d

\u201cDo you remember that episode of Family Guy when Peter\u2026\u201d

Raw, honest, spontaneous, and genuine.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXdkf_ZgIaI/

The Second Joy

Most mornings he\u2019s up before me. When I come downstairs there\u2019s always a glass of water on the counter for me.

Of course, I can pour my own water, but it\u2019s the fact he\u2019s thinking of me. It\u2019s one of his rituals, and whether he knows it or not, I notice.

The Third Joy

The bed. He makes the bed most mornings. The odd time we both leave it a mess. But I feel it\u2019s somehow \u201chis thing.\u201d And it\u2019s cute.

This morning I walked into the bedroom after a shower to open the window. I saw the bed and it brought me a moment of joy and the inspiration for this post.

The Fourth Joy

Look at the size of those shoes! Size 13s!

Now, why are his shoes there, and not in the front hall closet or on a shoe mat by the door?

\u201cBecause they\u2019re my shoes and don\u2019t tell me what to do!\u201d

He\u2019s right. This used to drive me crazy. Now I see it and accept it as his uniqueness, and that gives me joy.

The Fifth and Absolutely Not Final Joy

In June, 2015 we both got matching tattoos, just before Pride.

Neither of us wants to get married. We both respect the rights of LGBTQ people to get married, but neither of us like the \u201cinstitution of marriage\u201d and all the baggage that comes with it.

Rings are much too traditional and easy to remove.

Our tattoo reminds me of the joy I experience living with and being in love with Christiaan, every day. When I see it, I smile. :-)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.