Seems like a strange question to ask. What could they possibly have in common? On the surface, these two fictional characters seem quite different – one is a sports agent and the other is a boxer.
However, their ideas of what makes a great relationship are quite similar – and very romantic.
You Complete Me
I am sure you all know this scene in Jerry Maguire (1996):
Jerry: I love you. You… you complete me. And I just… Dorothy: Shut up, just shut up. You had me at "hello".
Who didn’t get caught up in this famous, romantic movie moment?
Together We Fill Gaps
Rewind twenty years, and there is a scene in the movie Rocky (1976) where Rocky is talking with Paulie about Adrian. It goes something like this:
Paulie: You like her? Rocky: Sure, I like her. Paulie: What’s the attraction? Rocky: I dunno… she fills gaps. Paulie: What’s ‘gaps’? Rocky: I dunno, she’s got gaps, I got gaps, together we we fill gaps.
Who knew that Rocky could be so profound? Or so coherent? I don’t think this scene is as well known as the Jerry Maguire scene, but I find it much more endearing.
My Point?
Why am I writing about this? I think the best relationships are the ones where each person is lacking something that the other ‘fills in’. Now, I am not saying that relationships should be based on one person needing another person to make their life complete, but rather that each person helps the other to be a better person. My husband and I have this type of relationship. I tend to be lazy, and he is very active.
He struggled with debt, and I am naturally frugal. I am messy, and he loves to organize. We help each other to be better with the things that we do not come by naturally. He helps me to be more active and less messy; while I help him curb his spending and enjoy some downtime. (Personally, I think I make out better with these examples!)
These may just be small parts of our relationship, but they are the parts that help make ‘us’ work. We don’t create one whole as a couple, but rather we help make each other whole. He completes me and I fill in his gaps!
Is your relationship like this?
How do you and your spouse help each other be better people?
Stacey writes for Newlywed Survival. Read more about relationships and newlywed survival techniques on her blog dedicated to newly married couples.
About Nicole
Nicole is a stay-at-home mom living on the outskirts of Manhattan with her husband and their 3-year-old son. She is also expecting a second child in January 2013.
Interesting points! My husband and I are alike in so many ways and so different in others. We respect our differences though and I think that certainly helps!
“You had me at hello….” I love that movie!
Your point about completing each other is really important. My husband and I definitely balance out each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
I’ll be getting married in a year and a half, so this was really a wonderful surprise read. I’d like to think I’ve helped my fiance improve what was already there inside of him; he, on the other hand, opened my heart and mind in ways I didn’t know possible. Also, he’s street smart and I’m “book smart” so we work great!