stock.adobe.com
Allison Miller and her boyfriend enjoyed six months of normalcy before the pandemic hit. But their relationship quickly became ”a lot more real” as they went from seeing each other on weekends to working remotely under the same roof.
Miller, who was fearful of contracting COVID-19 after nearly dying from the flu in 2014, says that, through it all, her boyfriend was “fantastic, supportive and a blessing.”
While some couples have struggled to communicate and agree on COVID protocols during the past year, others have thrived. But experts say the next stage could be a challenge as couples who have grown closer adjust to post-pandemic life.
USA TODAY
Allison Miller and her boyfriend enjoyed six months of normalcy before the pandemic hit. But their relationship quickly became a lot more real as they went from seeing each other on weekends to working remotely under the same roof.
Miller, who was fearful of contracting COVID-19 after nearly dying from the flu in 2014, says through it all, her boyfriend was fantastic, supportive and a blessing.
While some couples have struggled to communicate and agree on COVID protocols during the last year, others have thrived. But experts say the next stage could be a challenge as couples who have grown closer adjust to post-pandemic life.
Ariel Perry Photography
“When I’m talking about boundaries, I’m talking about what defines your relationship. What makes you feel safe, comfortable; and what are the parameters for your particular relationship?” Tawwab says. “In my practice,I started to see these patterns around our inability to ask for what we wanted in a relationship whether that’s partnership, family, friendships, at work and lots of people were showing up burnt out, overwhelmed, depressed and resentful because of a lack of boundaries.”
Tawwab points out that saying “no” is only a small fragment of curating healthy boundaries, and that there’s more to the art of self-advocacy and setting the tone for your peace. “It’s also asking for what you want, implementing consequences, saying things that make you feel better, not overloading your schedule,” she says.
Allie Holloway / Courtesy
Over the past year, we humans have had our lives upended as we try to ward off the unknowns of the novel coronavirus. It’s devastated our physical health at the time of publication, the number of American lives lost was 500,000 and counting and exacerbated our mental-health crisis. In fact, the American Psychological Association reported that 71 percent of Americans believe we are living through the lowest point in United States history that they could remember.
Despite the difficulties we’ve faced, there has been at least one redeeming factor: Our society has reconsidered the bravery and perseverance of frontline health-care workers and their daily fight to keep our bodies thriving. Now it’s time to celebrate the ones giving relief to our spirits the reproductive justice warriors, end-of-life planners, mutual aid facilitators, and more, dedicated to making 2021 less stressful and healthier for all Americans. That’s why this year
Presenting Marie Claire s 2021 Changemakers List msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.