The Leads

Tanaz carries a book with her everywhere she goes. Even when there's no chance she'll have time to read it, she carries it along like an emotional-support book. She's a proud marathon survivor and loves running. After watching her crush a race last year, I decided to give running a try too, and now it's something we do together. Getting to participate in an activity she loves has been so meaningful for me.

Tanaz dedicates a lot of time to her hobbies, but they're just a small slice of who she is. If I had to choose one word to describe her, I would pick "determined". She's her own toughest critic, she knows what she wants, and she works relentlessly to achieve her goals. She's also warm and curious. She builds community wherever she goes and puts thought and care into strengthening the relationships in her life. And I guarantee you'll never meet anyone else who asks as many questions as she does! She loves learning new things about the world and about the people around her. One of my favorite things about her is the way she notices tiny details about other people that make them feel seen and understood. It's a quality I think is genuinely rare, and I hope, over the course of our lives, that I can make her feel just as seen and cared for.

Vince is a treasure-trove of facts! We were both History majors in college, but he's the one who actually remembers what he learned. So if you have a question about any important — or even irrelevant — historical event, he probably has the answer. These days, he's been fully embracing his 30s by spending weekend mornings sipping coffee and reading the delivered Sunday edition of The New York Times. And when he needs a reprieve from all the news that's fit to print, he reads fantasy novels or goes to the gym.

I appreciate that Vince likes to learn new things and prioritizes health and fitness, but what I love most about him is that he never fails to show up for the people around him. He is very close to his extended family, helps out with all of my family's holiday parties, weddings, and dinners, and consistently prioritizes me and our relationship — whether he's asking me a million questions about my day or planning a surprise weekend trip so we can spend quality time together.

His greatest strength is his perseverance. Nothing deters him — not from working toward his goals, not from supporting friends and family, and not from making sure our life together is full of fun and happiness.