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The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

The Daily Free Press

The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University.

The Daily Free Press

The Daily Free Press

Ask Abby (Or Analise): My guide to dating non-negotiables

Ask Abby (Or Analise): My guide to dating non-negotiables

By Analise Bruno November 4, 2025
At the core of every healthy relationship is a list of non-negotiables — not the superficial kind like “must be over six feet tall” or “has to like dogs,” but the soul-level standards that define your peace. Your non-negotiables are the things that say, “I love you, but I love myself too.” They’re your inner compass, or the quiet voice that whispers “This doesn’t feel right,” even when the relationship looks fine on paper. Here’s the truth: Love without boundaries isn’t love. It’s self-abandonment dressed up as devotion. 
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dating standards