It starts out with uncomfortable nerves having to be introduced to people that have made such a significant impact on the person your boyfriend is today. You're wondering if they'll like you, and they're wondering if you're anything like how your man has described you as. You survive the first time meeting them, and each time you're reacquainted, you start to feel the stress lift off your shoulders more and more. Until one day-maybe a few weeks; maybe a few months, they're your closest friends.

My circle has undoubtedly changed since I've been with my boyfriend. At first I was nervous about that because change isn't something I look forward to. It takes a lot of adjusting for me, so if I'm able to avoid it, I normally do. I'm also not this social butterfly who enjoys going out and making new friends-I find great comfort in sticking with my day ones, and I never gave any consideration on switching that up.

The weird part is, it just kind of happens. These people that were such a big part of your boyfriend's life, start to become a big part of yours as well. You learn new things about entirely new people, and eventually they become just as significant in your life as they are in his.

Before you know it, you're making plans with these people on the days your boyfriend is actually busy doing something else. They're just as much friends with you as they are with him, and the secrets you once only told to your "day ones" you're telling to them as well. It's so crazy to think that when I gained a boyfriend, I also gained a handful of new, lifelong friends. Had I not met him, I wouldn't have realized there were people out there who could make my life so much better just by being around them.

I'm grateful you've all given me a chance to be a friend. Sure, at first it may have started out as something you felt obligated to do because you love the man I love, too. As time has gone by and my relationship has gotten more serious, I know this friendship is no longer under obligation but because you're all just genuinely good people looking for a good time.

What's even crazier to me, is the fact that my boyfriend has brought people in my life who stick by me more than the friends I've known for the majority of my life. That's not to say I don't have a few, good, reliable friends that will never be able to be replaced-because that's the 100% truth, but it still was an eye-opener to me that just because you've been friends for a long time, doesn't mean your friends are always good.

It's okay to want to expand your bubble. It's even more okay to want to do it with the people who hold such an important part of your boyfriend in their hearts. There's a reason why you love the person you're with, so wouldn't you want to love the people he loves as well?

I think you'll find just by being associated with these people, life starts to look up more. You plan vacations together-that you once never would have considered taking. You're invited to weddings where you get to reflect on all the times you've spent with that couple and how exciting it is to be there the day they show their love to everyone by getting married. You'll even learn things about them that you never anticipated learning-like when the booze gets to be too much, or when the dog hair on their pants from you crazy fur babies is sending them into a sneezing frenzy.

You learn, you live, and you make the memories that everyone dreams of having with close friends.

I have to give it to my boyfriend, he really has opened the door for me to meet wonderful new people, and I can't wait to see what other doors he may open for me along the way.