On the 114th episode of the Korean TV show, “You Quiz on the Block,” professor Bae Jeong-won from Sejong University mentions, “Love starts from the moment you get to spot one’s weakness.” While her touching words were originally aimed at romantic relationships, I could relate to a broader scale, applying them to all kinds of relationships built around me. At the beginning of a relationship, everything is likely to be pleasant since we get to focus on the positive aspects that were typically the reasons for being initially attracted. As we get closer, gradually spending more time together, we unexpectedly get to discover negative features that were not visible at a distance. The advantages that sparked the relationship become hidden beneath and the disadvantages get quite distracting. At this point, we may sometimes find ourselves disappointed or be led to doubt whether we should continue the relationship. However, unless what we newly discovered goes beyond social norms or morality, we neither have to be disappointed nor drift apart. This is a common stage in the process of strengthening long-term relationships. Especially if that person has been whom we were happy to be with, simply growing away from each other is not the only solution. I am surely not the person with the most experience, but looking back, I feel that everyone inevitably has certain characteristics that may not always be so pleasing to me. Even my closest friends do, and I am sure that others feel the same way about me.

    Relationships are like puzzles – many different pieces are connected to create a complete picture. Though the pieces look different, they fit into each other with knobs and holes that keep them from easily falling apart. Likewise, relationships can be hardened when embracing shortcomings and complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. When the weaknesses of those next to us suddenly come into sight one day, we can think of them as the unique shape of their puzzle piece. While we cannot see the exact shape of each piece from far away, we can see all of the sides up close. Discovering one’s faults is not the stage of falling action to a tragic ending. It is rather the start of a new chapter that is only open to the nearest and dearest, being able to read the deepest parts of someone.