.306 | to Hannah, from Katie

Is it too cliche to say you’re grateful for your significant other? Perhaps, but she is the first person I thought of when Brian asked me to think and write about someone I’m grateful for. I’ve only known Hannah for a little bit over a year. Like most pandemic couples, we met on Hinge and started our long distance relationship with constant texting. And once those face to face jitters lessened, those texts turned into many, many hours on FaceTime.

I am grateful for Hannah because she makes me laugh. You know, that laugh where your stomach is bursting from being clenched so hard, your eyes are watering, and your lungs are begging to be filled with air again kind of laugh. Everyday is an adventure because you never know what will come out of her mouth or what new dance move she will bust out for no reason.

I’m grateful for Hannah because she challenges me to communicate. I’ve never been one to be 100% completely open with how I feel or how I am doing. I’m used to faking it till you make it, but not with Hannah. I’m grateful that she asks me what I need and actually listens to it. If I need space... she lends it. If I need a hug... she embraces it. If I need to take a nappy nap... she will sit with me while I snore next to her. It’s amazing to be able to trust yourself to identify what you need and to trust your partner to respect that need.

I’m grateful to Hannah because she allows me to be myself. I can be completely Katie when I am with her. Which, for those of you who don’t know, includes a variety of things such as spacing out when I think of a great idea even when someone is talking to me, darting around the grocery store because the list I made is in my head and I don’t want to forget anything, and yelling at the TV when the Lakers are doing good and bad.

Hannah has allowed me to grow in ways I never knew I needed to grow in. Things like putting myself first, setting boundaries, advocating for myself, being myself and so much more. I’m grateful that as much as I’ve fallen in love with Hannah, I’ve also fallen so much more in love with myself.