What surprised you about poly relationships?

I started dating polyamorously about a year ago and I thought I'd have a lot of trouble with jealousy about dates, intimacy, etc. I was really surprised that compersion came easily! I am excited about my partners having fun, having healthy relationships with others, and proud of their positive sexual experiences.

On the negative side, I was surprised to discover how insecure I am in asking for what I need (primarily connected conversations) and how much I suppressed that or "adapted" in monogamous relationships. I'm working on getting better at identifying and communicating my needs and having multiple partners is excellent practice that gives me a lot of feedback - developing relationship skills is easier when you have more than one person to learn from and practice with.

What about you? What are you surprised to learn about yourself since expanding your love network?