Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman’s enduring love, sparked at a 2008 festival, is built on a powerful philosophy: ‘Individually we’re whole, but together we’re more.’ Their matching ‘M’ tattoos symbolize this belief, highlighting a partnership where both individuals remain complete while enhancing each other’s lives, fostering a union of equals rather than dependency.
For Anne Hathaway and her husband, Adam Shulman, it was love at first sight. Ever since locking eyes at the Palm Springs Festival in 2008, they ‘hit it off immediately’. “I knew from the second I met him that he was the love of my life,” the actress told Harper’s Bazaar UK earlier.
Now, as parents to their two children the spark has only deepened. Their love at first sight has blossomed into a lasting partnership.
At the heart of their love story lies a simple principle: “Individually we’re whole, but together we’re more.” This wisdom from Anne Hathaway is more than a romantic gesture. It says a lot about what fuels a healthy relationship.
The tattoo that tells the story
Anne Hathaway and her husband Adam Shulman are a power couple.
They even got matching tattoos. While appearing on the Drew Barrymore show earlier, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ actress spoke about the meaning behind the tattoo – the letter ‘M’ inked on her left wrist. Rather than being a sentimental initial or date, this tattoo represents something far more meaningful: their philosophy on life. “We have this thing, it’s actually a tattoo, and the idea is that individually we’re whole but together we’re more,” Hathaway said.
The ink serves as a constant reminder of the foundation of their marriage. They are not dependent on each other but are in this beautiful relationship to ‘be more’.
Freedom to be yourself
The couple’s approach to love is so refreshing . Their relationship does not really align with the ‘soulmate completion’ narrative. Rather, they have something more powerful. They don’t lose their individuality while in this relationship. During the conversation, Anne Hathaway expressed that she doesn’t believe in a partner completing her.
They are whole as individuals, but the partner adds value to their already beautiful life. “And so I think it’s just that thing [where] I don’t expect him to complete me and he doesn’t expect me to complete him,” she said. “I’m my own person. He’s his own person and we choose to be together because we believe we make each other better. And this union is something we both want to participate in,” she explained.
Why this quote is relevant?
Most of us still believe in the idea of the ‘other half’. But it doesn’t have to be. You are already a whole person. You don’t need anyone to ‘complete’ you. In fact, only then can you create a union of equals. You are not co-dependent, but intentionally choosing to be with each other. Would you rather be dependent on your partner, or have a partnership of equals? Anne Hathaway and her husband’s matching tattoo isn’t just ink; it’s a manifesto! One that carries more weight in this day and age.
Here both people get to stay themselves while becoming something greater together! Isn’t that what relationships are supposed to be?
