Unreciprocated ways I showed interest in his interests

Today's social media memories are concrete examples from two different years of the ways I would encourage my ex-husband's interests and join him in those interests even when it wasn't something that interested me.

On April 15, 2021, I followed him all around our local auto show where he did his best to try and sit in and inspect every car at the show.  I happily went because I cared about seeing him happy not because I had any interest in staring at cars for hours on end.

On April 15, 2024, we took a dune buggy excursion in the Dominican Republic where he got to off-road and get us all covered completely in mud.  It was an experience I never would have chosen for myself but I found it and booked because I wanted to see his joy.  My gimbal for my phone is still stained from the mud that covered it as I recorded our adventure, reminding me of this day each time I use it.

Yet, when we did something I wanted to do like go to a botanical gardens, he would spend the entire time alternating between complaining and burying himself in his phone.  

I don't regret showing up for him and what was important to him.  It's a positive reflection on my character.  

But his not showing up for me in similar ways was a sign of how self-absorbed he was and how unbalanced the relationship was that I probably should have paid a little closer attention to.  He was showing me his character in those moments.