Guys On Love Relationships And More

- Mara Agner

On Relationships: Beneath the surface 

A romantic relationship is serious business, but when it’s right and real, it is also the best avenue to let loose and truly be yourself. by Anton D. Umali

I’ve been described on more than one occasion as being too intense. Maybe it’s my loud voice, or my overt way of over-explaining things I’m passionate about, but one thing’s for sure, when you’ve built a reputation in your own head as someone who is chill, fun-loving, and carefree, hearing people attach adjectives like “scary” or “aggressive” to your personality can be somewhat jarring.

I don’t know when I became so intense. Back in high school and college, I was pigeonholed as the bohemian type—head in the sky, feet not always planted firmly on the ground. Relaxed. Easygoing. I didn’t mind—these were traits I could live with. After being thrust into the real world post-graduation, things started to change. I started to change. Competitiveness in the workplace, the need to pay rent, the pressure to mold a life worth living for became all too tangible. I was finally becoming an adult and needed to let go of la vie bohème. Sigh.

I replaced my freewheeling with focus, my all-night partying with early mornings at the office, sipping hot cups of coffee to power through the workday. Sure, these changes had a positive effect on my life, but I couldn’t help but feel that I was suddenly wearing a chain mail of seriousness that didn’t match who I was deep down.