Since the start of Welcome to Plathville, Olivia Plath has changed a lot. The journey to discovering who she is and what she wants out of life has caused tension and misunderstandings in her marriage. Her husband Ethan Plath has struggled with her new sense of self, and feels that she is a different person entirely.
Future husband and wife Ethan and Olivia grew up with similar backgrounds, as she also has a big family, was homeschooled, and was raised in a strict Christian household. After she tied the knot, she started to break away from the expectations that her family had for her. She is learning to live life with fewer restrictions and boundaries, and realizing it isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Although Olivia’s upbringing didn't feature as many parental rules as Ethan had to follow, she still felt pressure to live her life in a particular way. Now, she is taking the opportunity to broaden her horizons, and step out of her comfort zone. Ethan was right when he said that Olivia has changed. She really isn't the same person that he married. Olivia posts quite frequently on Instagram, and her account shows just how far she has come. Now, it's time to take a look at how the person she is today differs from who she used to be.
Confidence
Then:
Now:
Olivia used to be a self-described timid person, and now she feels like she is finally finding her voice. Even though she still fights a lot of self-doubts, she is starting to feel confident in her body. She grew up in an atmosphere where loving your body and looks was considered a bad thing, and was often seen as vain and self-centered. Olivia used to prefer being behind the camera, but now she enjoys being in front of the lens. Back then, she didn't take very many selfies, but now she is seeing her worth, and she isn't afraid to show it.
Mindset
Then:
Now:
Olivia grew up with some standards and preconceived notions about what she should think, what she should do, and the way that she should conduct herself. Back then, Olivia subscribed to what she was taught, but now she is learning to break through those mental blocks. She's willing to go against expectations about how she was raised. She is breaking the mold, and not living her life to please other people. Olivia is open to experiencing new things like learning to pole dance, meeting up with friends at a bar for drinks, and even going to a strip club. These are activities that she wouldn't have let herself participate in before.
Marriage
Then:
Now:
It's clear that Olivia and Ethan have their share of struggles, and have had difficulty working through their differences. Marriage hasn't been easy for them, but in the beginning, they didn't realize how many obstacles they would have to face. The newlyweds were young and in love, and nothing else mattered. Since then, they have had to live with the stress of a strained relationship with Kim and Barry Plath, resentment, frustration, and an overwhelming sense of not understanding one another. Their brief separation has brought them back together, and they are slowly trying to find a happy medium, as they want different things. They do enjoy traveling and sightseeing together.
There is no denying that Olivia has changed, and she may have evolved in ways that she didn't even know were possible. She has changed as much on the inside as she has on the outside. Hopefully, she and Ethan can find common ground on Welcome to Plathville. It's possible that she and Ethan can learn to grow as a couple, while still becoming the best version of themselves.