Man and woman. Man- always the anti-thesis of woman or vice-versa. Both are human. Both are persons. Are they the same? Not in many, many ways. In thinking, emotion, behavior. Not really the same. Those who had been married, partners for a period of time, or even just friends know this to be true.
Following up on my discussion on contradictions; if there were instances of contradictions in thought, feelings, or actions nothing could be more classic than the case between man and woman. Especially, partners or mates. You'd think that the years of togetherness would bring about more harmony between them, but that does not happen.
Why then do many couples or mates stick together to celebrate their golden wedding, or partnership (or whatever) anniversaries? Why? They have simply mastered the art of synthesis. In this case, synthesis is basically give and take. Irreconcilable differences? What about selfishness? What about being individualistic, or being self-centered? Perhaps, being sick-in-the head? Which could be defined as, "the psychological incapacity to sustain the relationship, and to live up to its demands."
Consider that each individual human person is unique. No duplicates (assuming there are no clones. But then, who knows?). We are talking about originals, here. So, there could only be one of each. Even if there are twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc. So, if someone says "we are so much alike", or "we have so much in common." Understand that this person is talking in relative terms, not in absolutes. If this person says "we are the same." In what way are you the same? In dignity? In humanity? Maybe so. But, other than that, like - are you thinking exactly the same, feeling exactly the same, and acting exactly the same all of the time? When this person says you are - you must start having very serious doubts, indeed.
So, considering the inherent differences among humans, synthesis is an act of emotional, mental and behavioral acrobatics. It is not easy (nothing in this world is). Between a man and a woman it becomes a matter of complementarity, of balance, of completing each other. Where one is weak, the other is strong; where one is impulsive the other is deliberate; where one is hyperactive the other is calm and reserved, etc.... And a new reality is created: coupleness (or balanced partnership - whatever). This new reality is the synthesis between the mates. So that when you see them together you don't see each one of them, what you see is THEM. So that when you see only one you miss the other. Because, somehow one is incomplete without the other. For true mates, the feeling of being whole when the other is present and of being incomplete when that other is absent is unconscious. It is just there. In this sense, a perfect synthesis has been achieved. The degree of synthesis attained depends largely on the amount of complementarity, and balance that exist in the relationship.
