I don’t think passions need to be shared. But being tolerated is not enough. There needs to be understanding and encouragement because keeping passions alive through adversity is important. A couple should include two separate prosperous identities working together for benefits both mutually and externally.

Quirks or characteristics need to be embraced as well. I think a reason why oppositeness is important is that when these weird things are duplicated, there aren’t the same checks and balances. Dysfunction piled on to dysfunction leads to comfortable and perpetuated dysfunction, which doesn’t help anyone. The best way for an idiosyncrasy to be validated or kept under control is by an objective source.

Losing identity or passion leads to two less than whole parts. Does 1+1=1 or 1+1=3? If 1+1=1, maybe to begin with the individuals aren’t whole. 0.5 + 0.5 leads to 1, but how often do things improve if you are only half strength? If anything it will lead to mutual downfall. Relationships should be about two complete people who are doing well alone, but are even better together.