Valentine's Day has come and gone and with it were many social media relationship reveals. However, maybe you didn't feel that a commercialized holiday was the right time to go public with the special person in your life. Well, when is the right time? Or is privacy the new commitment? Navigating how serious or inconsequential social media is to your relationship is, of course, entirely up to you and your partner. But what happens if you don't quite know how you feel about letting the world in? How can you love your person out loud without loving them for everyone to see?
Here are some things to admit before you make that public declaration.
Are You Both Clear On The Relationship Status
This may seem obvious, but many times situations have blown up behind an assumption of where a relationship stands. Having an open and honest dialogue about whether or not either (or both) of you are seeing other people and where you both feel your train is headed can keep the drama at bay. Plus, this gives you both a much-needed opportunity to discuss any expectations or skeletons that may arise due to your reveal.
Who Are You Doing It For?
Chances are, once this happens, the people who already knew you two were carrying on won't care much. They'll be excited to comment and see you happy and boo'd up, but those who didn't know may take it as an opportunity to do some digging on both sides. Unfortunately, not everyone from your past (or theirs) may want to stay there, which means you both have to be willing to ward off any unwanted "hey big head" moments. Plus, if it's a matter of you two proudly claiming one another, you can always go close friends and keep it moving.
Could Privacy Strengthen Your Bond For Now?
When you're in love, and things are good, you want to scream it to the world. And that's fine. But sometimes, what we need is more time to experience all the inner workings of a connection before we start to worry about the image of it. It's tempting to jump the gun based on those ooey-gooey honeymoon period feelings but building your relationship through seasons of transition, conflict, or just simply growth can be the recipe for sustaining it in the long-term.
However, you choose to share your love story, make sure it's authentic to you and your partner, done for the right reasons, and unchanged by public scrutiny. Guarding and protecting our intimate relationships is necessary in these times of chronic oversharing. It's okay to keep something for yourself.