Your boyfriend isn't supposed to be the spitting image of you. How creepy would that be? That's why you shouldn't be concerned if you two don't seem to have a lot in common. As long as you can still find topics to talk about and fun dates to go on, then there's nothing to worry about. Here are a few things that you don't need to have in common with a guy in order to have a successful relationship with him:
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1. Your Taste in TV Shows
Every couple wants to lounge around on the couch watching Netflix. However, if you can never settle on a show that you'll both enjoy, it'll push you to go out and have some fun. You'll never waste your days inside the house, because you'd rather go mini-golfing or bike riding.
2. Your Friends
You might see your friends every single day, and your man might only see his friends once or twice a month. That doesn't matter. You don't have to force your friend groups to merge. Real life isn't like Friends.
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3. Your Backgrounds
If you grew up in a cramped apartment and your boyfriend grew up in a mansion, it doesn't make a difference. Sure, you'll have to get used to each other's lifestyles, but it'll be a learning experience. You'll both get to see the world in new ways, and isn't that one of the best things about dating someone?
4. Your Jobs
If you're a teacher, you don't have to date another teacher. It's perfectly fine for you to date a lawyer, even if you can't stand the thought of entering a courtroom. Sure, you'll have to endure stories about his time at work, but you won't actually have to watch him work, so why does it matter if you hate his job? You're not the one who has to sit there with him.
5. Your Age
If your boyfriend is five years older than you, it might sound like a huge age difference. However, when you're 32 and he's 37, it's not that big of a deal. You probably grew up watching the same shows and listening to the same music, even though you're half a decade apart. (Of course, if you're two decades apart, it could pose a problem.)
6. Your Fashion Sense
If you love to wear expensive name brand clothing and he walks around in cheap wife beaters from Kmart, then it shouldn't be an issue. After all, looks aren't everything. The clothing that he wears shouldn't matter to you, because his personality should be the most important thing. After all, Rachel was in the fashion industry and she still ended up with Ross, didn't she?
7. Your Mindset
If you dream of becoming an artist, you don't have to find another artist to suffer alongside. Sometimes, it's best for you to find someone with "practical" dreams, like becoming a doctor. That way, you'll be able to balance each other out. You'll be able to help him let loose and he'll be able to help you create realistic goals.
As long as you're happy together, it doesn't matter how similar you are. After all, everyone has heard that opposites attract. Are you and your boyfriend have a lot in common, or are you two total opposites?
Comments
Seyy: he is 5yrs older than me. haha
Cassieculbreth: My boyfriend is Puerto Rican and I'm white, race isn't really an issue at actually, I don't look at him and see something other than the boy that I care for. He was raised Catholic and I'm baptist but even that's not an issue, we aren't church goers or super religious.
agirl99: What about different ethnicities, races, and religions?
Emily: I know a couple which the woman is 30 years older than the man.
Jayda: So true but loved article
Amarys: My man is 22 years older than me and I don't feel the difference.
Jessica: My parents are 14 and a half years apart and it has never been a big deal
Natalie: Ethnicities and races isn't so bad. You can learn about his culture and vice versa. Where a problem might appear is different religions particularly if both parties are stuck to their religious views and aren't flexible to accept anything else b
Alyx: I don't think race matters in a relationship, but religious beliefs, unless they're similar, its incredibly hard. I dated a very religious Christian man during high school, and being raised atheist and not fully believing in mainstream religion, it got really hard. Especially once I figured out who I was and everything, he couldn't be supportive anymore because I thought women were also attractive. Another is the backgrounds. I do agree but I don't. I grew up very poor, and in a crappy neighborhood with lots of things happening. My family never had more than 200$ combined that were not going to bills or necessities. Once I got a stable job and moved out, and helped my family, things were better but I didn't change lifestyles. One night at a bar with friends I met this really really awesome guy, we hit it off and ended up seeing each other the next day. We casually dated for a few months, then his parents were coming for a visit, he invited me to dinner. I figured I'd just wear a cute sundress. When he picked me up in a really nice car, with a driver, I felt very out of place. We went to a restaurant where the prices weren't even on the menu, and there wasn't anything basic to eat. I ended up getting a salad since I couldn't pronounce anything else. But the worst part, his Parents were lovely, but they were complaining about the silliest things. Of course they were problems for them, but when you can't decide what diamond bracelet to wear with your outfit, so you just go buy another, its not at all a problem compared to "I can't afford to pay for gas so I have to walk 80 minutes to work or starve". It was fun, I got to experience a lot of new things, but at the end of the day, his problems were not in the same wavelength as mine in severity (again, problems nonetheless for him, but silly things in regards to my life) and he couldn't understand that I needed to work a certain amount of hours to be able to afford rent and food. He skipped work all the time, and only got "fun" jobs that he could try for a while then leave when he got bored. I realized quickly after that, we weren't going anywhere, I'm sure if we stayed together we'd fight over everything, since he was materialistic and I could barely afford a used couch. I think most things people are able to look past, but when someone grew up completely different than you, and you aren't just looking for someone who is rich, then it's not going to work out. Just like religious beliefs, its not something that can be changed without consequences to the relationship and resentment.
peony: Yep date people in different jobs it gives you something to talk about. I had a friend who was an actor whose boyfriend was an actor as well because they knew how remanding the job was she did isn't mind if he was abroad working until she discovered that he was playing the field. I am not saying that it would have been different if he wasn't an actor but maybe she wouldn't have been so blasé about the situation and she would have kept her eye on the ball...anyway she is happier in another relationship now but he is an actor though so there!
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