How does my intimate relationship with my partner work?

The amazing thing about the way an intimate relationship works is that in it, both partners get what they need from the other (which, by the way, is never what you think it will be). Your partner does this partly by not always giving you what you want. It is precisely his capacity to make you uncomfortable that creates the challenges that help you grow. This dance of loving each other madly, but driving each other nuts provides an opportunity not just to connect with the other, but also to learn about yourself - to bring to the surface all those qualities you try to keep hidden, to test yourself beyond anything you could ever imagine. Union with another, ultimately, takes you inside yourself to a place where all illusions and pretense are stripped away.