Epiphanies Small and Large

I have had a relaxing few days, when I understood a few more things about how I operate. About how I like to work and how my mind reacts to stress. Also, about how I destress. I am planning a trip at the end of this week. A trip which could include the SO, but probably will not. Just because I want some time and space from him. I want to go, and be, and do, and not worry about hurting his feelings or being hurt by him. This feels weird. Perhaps an ongoing symptom of me having worked myself out of 'loving' feelings for him?

With regard to work as well, I realise why I have had such a challenging year. I personally, like to get a lot of information, to immerse myself in the issue before I take decisions or action. It is just the way I work best. I also get best results when I do this, as it means I have given the issues some thought, teased them out, etc.. In past roles, I had the time to do this. In the past year, I have had a couple of serious challenges:

1. New subject matter and regulatory dealings;
2. Many things going on at the same time;
3. Requiring other people to do things;

Usually, I would take time to get to know the new subject matter and consult with experts, but because of 2, I couldn't take too much time. And I discover I am terrible at 3. I am also bad at project management and prioritisation, so 2 also felt the impact.

I realised all this over the course of last night, which is very relieving in itself, because it means I can work this stuff out, and more importantly, explain to my boss.

Another epiphany I had is about men and sex. This is a little random, but I think I have a good understanding now about the confusion that occurs around consent/rape. The expounding of this requires some assumptions as follows:

1. Given a choice, men will take an opportunity to have sex;
2. Regular men (the standard human being) will want to know that the woman is consenting to sex.

The challenge is, and this is especially true in countries where people do not openly talk about sex, when is the woman saying 'yes' to sex? If you believe movies, it's one thing, if you believe your peers, it's another. However, there is only one clear answer, it is when she says 'yes'. So, if at any point she says 'no', then there is no consent.

Even though this proposition is clear and simple, the world is neither. So boys and girls are brought up to be unclear about consent. Girls are told if you talk to a boy he'll think you're saying yes. Or in less extreme cases, if you talk to a boy about sex, he'll think you are consenting to sex with him. Similarly, assumptions about the clothes you wear, the way you smile, talk, laugh, eat, drink ... just about anything a woman does is proscribed, because it could give the man an idea that the woman is agreeable to having sex with him.

So what is the epiphany? It is that we (women) are trained to keep men at a distance, because they are not clear on when we are saying 'yes' to sex, and given a choice, they will take the opportunity. Which makes Indian women rather unfriendly to men, which is strange, as we are warm and friendly people, but realistic.

Notes to Self

Therapy/counselling progresses and I find the need to make notes. The last time we were in counselling, we were both on the same side, I didn't really want to leave him, and I wasn't this angry or disengaged. This time, it's a little different and though the counsellor is trying, I find myself a little irritated and angry. I want to write out why, how etc.

SO does not enjoy this process at all, I can see that. What this makes me feel, right now, is that we should just stop. I am actually more interested in letting go of this relationship than keeping it going. This is funny, because last week, I was more inclined to work on it. Let me try to articulate what has changed:

Last week, what happened was that SO expressed attraction to me, physical attraction. I wanted to as well, so I participated enthusiastically. When he's in the right frame of mind, it's almost all ok. What's lacking? There are still some physical challenges with him, which mean that sex isn't sex. It's almost, but not quite. Which sometimes makes me frustrated, and I suppose I began preempting the future, thinking about how it's almost ok now, but what about in a few months, or a few years etc..

Then we went for a concert. Shafqat Amanat Ali. I thought we were fortunate to get tickets, I had a fabulous time! He... surfed the internet and drained his battery. He kind of enjoyed it, but he wouldn't have gone for it left to himself, and he certainly did not add to my enjoyment of it. Much like his watching movies with me. Am I looking for flaws? Maybe I am. To be fair, we went to NGMA and had a pretty good time. Though, the enjoyment of art is a much more personal experience than the enjoyment of music, which is shared, for me.

Then there was a conversation which went down the 'why?' 'why not?' or 'I don't want to', route, which reminded me painfully of what it feels like normally. I know he's trying, but I also am certain that one day, he'll stop trying, and I'll really want to kill myself that day. I actually mean this. It makes me furiously sad. Furious because I know I deserve better, and I've been saying this for years now, and sad because of the time that elapses, and how much older I will be before I call the 'last straw'. I suppose also, right now, I'm pretty certain that we will get back to that point, and I'd rather call it now, than in a year or two.

The session this week also made me angry. The counsellor identified, correctly, that I tend to talk my way through a conversation, i.e. have it with myself. And her experience of SO isn't that he stonewalls, or doesn't give me responses. That is my experience of him. But I felt wronged. Also, he lied. He said that in conversations, he'll say something and it's a dead end at that point because I get upset. I think I've become much better about this, but this is the impression he's leaving her with. The other thing is that we started looking at a personality inventory. The initial step already showed that he's a more neurotic personality than me. I get that. The counsellor then suggested that it'll take patience from me to get him past this. I burst into tears at that point because I don't want to be patient. It is not my job to be his parent, I don't want to 'grow him up'. I want him to grow up. Also, I want to know if he wants to grow up. Because I don't believe he does. I believe he's saying this for counselling, or because he's afraid of losing me, which are not enough for me. If he doesn't want this, then it's not going to last. And yes, I am pre-judging, but after 13 years, I think I'm not reacting unfairly.

The way I feel after each session is interesting. After the first one, I felt heard. After the second one, I felt rather hopeful, because SO was opening up. After this one (the third one) I feel betrayed. Like SO is giving her a false impression of himself, and therefore a false impression of me. I know he is not doing this on purpose, but I felt wronged. She said at one point, that our conversations didn't feel like pulling teeth, and I said that it's only in there that it doesn't. I have stopped trying to have the more difficult conversations because that's exactly how it feels to me, like pulling teeth.

I know that in the next session, we will go through the personality inventory and I will say, clearly, that I am not on the fence, I am certainly more interested in leaving than in staying, but I'm going to give counselling as long a rope as it needs. I am not resistant but I am scared. Also, the person I am now, doesn't respect the person SO is now. And I don't think he's actually interested in changing for himself, and I don't think it's my responsibility to change him, or improve him.

Progress?

The themes I noted are the lack of intimacy, affection and attraction. Stuff I've been talking about on this blog for years, that I had done nothing but complain about to the SO. The challenge with that, though, is that I learnt how to complain so efficiently, that the complaints were becoming ineffective, and were hurting me more. Initially I'd request, then I'd get upset, and eventually I'd threaten. Sometimes the request would work, but it was already a little late, because the request came after some sense of deprivation. When life was stressful for SO, the issue had to escalate, which meant I felt worse.

I then, as I can tell from the blog, began to feel there was something wrong with me. That I needed to change parts of myself for this relationship to work. I began to feel ashamed of my sexuality, guilty about some of the outlets I chose. It was a negative cycle and I wasn't sure what to do about it. At some point, I realised that the negative feedback was hurting me. Like deep down hurting, part of this realisation came from this blog. Which is why I felt I had to let go for a bit.

Then, when I had some more realisations, I spoke to SO saying that our expectations and commitments appear to be at odds. I also told him that I can accept this variance, and don't believe this means we are bad people, but just that the relationship may not be 'all that'. He was, as usual, stumped by how to make it work. And we have started seeing a therapist again. Our first session was yesterday and I was super tense just before. To the extent that I was very wound up on Sunday, crying at nothing, clinging to SO because I didn't know what I was doing wrong etc.. The session though, was a welcome relief. I felt heard, I felt listened to, and I felt like a tightly wound spring is uncoiling inside me.

I know that I need to work on some stuff, but I am now, not guilty about my sexuality or even the fact that I am a sexual being. I am, after a rough period, ready to embrace it, and not let SO's lack of the same, affect me. What this means is, that my expressions of my sexuality cannot hurt the SO, as long as we are in a relationship, but I think that is imminently manageable. While we figure out what happens with us and this relationship.

Breaking Up

I think I need to take a break from this particular blog. It has some themes which I have to either confront or accept. I know this, but apparently I'm not ready to either confront or accept. I need some time to feel and stew. To let the distress wash over me, claim me, and then release me. And the me that I will be then, she may come back here. Or she may move on, because her life and world will be different, and she may not be spicy chai anymore.

Exhilaration

I don't understand it at all, but it feels like I have found something. Times have been tough, work has been challenging, but I've kind of taken a decision to follow a different professional path than the one I am in now, and that appears to make me feel happy. Like deep down, this is what I am meant to do, happy. I absolutely do not understand it.

Also, I think SO and I have reached some point of divergence. We live together comfortably, but we  are not actually 'husband-wife' compatible. He's currently on a break due to my proposed move, and he seems to be coping well, studying, cooking regularly, it's been nice that way. The 'coupledom' though, I suppose we will never achieve what I'd like. And it feels like I'm at peace with that. I accept that I will not have love the way it is in movies and books, and I can live with that. 

Love or Something Like It

I may have posted something about when I was in school, and a friend asked me, what love feels like. We were 16-17 year-olds, in the throes of crushes and first relationships. I had crushes, and only knew those as 'love'. So my answer was that when you see that 'someone', it kind of takes your breath away. You gasp a little.

Now, I am more than double that age, and I understand there is a lot more to this emotion, now I would probably say it has to do with knowing someone has your back and you have theirs. That you'll do whatever it takes to give them what they want, that you want to see them smile, and seeing them smile makes you smile. And I also understand that there's intense attraction. The kind that takes your breath away.

What I've not experienced enough (or not noticed) is another person being attracted to me. I think a lot of it has to do with the way I present myself, in the sense that I'm not 'out there'. It is easier for people to like me, than to 'fall for' me. And for the most part, I'm ok with that. Once in a while it would be nice to feel that someone is losing his breath because of me. That he's flustered when he's talking to me because he wants to make a good impression, and that there's a warmth in his eyes that is only for me.

This love, or rather, this attraction, is what is in movies. The intense attraction that two people who do not know each other feel, inexplicable, but strong.

As I grow older, I am quite impressed by some movies/stories and the acting, the ability of the actors to show us what the characters are feeling. And it turns out that in the 1990s, Shahrukh Khan worked hard at this. His image of a romantic hero was well deserved at that time. Now, increasingly, it feels like he's sleepwalking through roles. I guess this has something to do with watching Dilwale Dulhaniya, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and K3G in the space of a week.

Flogging a Dead Horse?

I am furious. I am not completely sure why I am this angry and at some level, am even concerned by the depth of this emotion. Not furious in general, furious in the very specific, with SO.

I am once again, trying to be healthy and am working on the eating part, though I have found reasons not to exercise for a full week. This morning, it was all set, I could have gone. Why did I not? Because I did not want to think. It was as simple as that. When I walk, I think. I could have thought about work, but there are no tensions or issues that need resolution, so I would not really have thought about work. And the other thing I could have thought about, I really did not want to. The other thing being this rage.

Which made me force myself to think about it a little later, specifically when I was driving, so I could begin to understand. I did some thinking and I think I scratched the surface. Now though, it feels like things are a little clearer.

The root of the issue actually is my impending job move. There are issues between SO and me, there are communication issues and irritations, but this move is adding to the complications.

Turns out, I don't really want to move. I'm happy with my life in this city, with my home, with the bikes etc. The role I am in currently is also good and growing since my boss went back to the US (and my new boss was an old boss, so working is easier). I had thought about not changing roles, but they were going to bring in someone to replace the boss who went back, and then I'd have to cope with a new boss who would want to second guess what I was upto, I didn't think I was going to get a promotion, I didn't really want to continue doing the grunt work while someone else got to attend the important meetings etc., so I convinced myself that Singapore was a good thing. Then I got the promotion and wavered a bit, now it sounds like they may not being someone in, so again, I'm wavering.

Why is Singapore still good? It's a different profile of job. It will have increased visibility and should be fun in itself. It's Singapore! The job will involve business travel, which I enjoy greatly. And, the SO will benefit from this. It allows him to leave a job that he is not happy in, to study further or get another job with another organization, to move to a less crowded country etc.

This is what I realised over the weekend and it has made me angry. Part of the anger is that I cannot leave this marriage, because (as always) he promises that it will get better, and because it'll really upset my parents (father in particular). So I guess at some level I feel doubly trapped. I cannot leave a marriage that this weekend, has been really unhappy, and I cannot leave a job, that will have a lot of stress (shifting countries), all because of the SO.

This is not specifically his fault, but it doesn't help when he behaves stupidly, and/or is grumpy because I snap at him. Potentially the snapping is because I was hormonal, but the thought running through my head since Saturday is that I want out because this is frustrating as hell. The thing is, he's right. I was not being 'nice' to him, but I feel entitled to be a bitch.

Specifically because for the past few weeks (and I hope to God it's because I'm hormonal), I'm seeing the possibility of children as becoming increasingly remote and it depresses me greatly. To the extent where I am not sure why I should continue doing anything. It's not fair to consider having a child to give me 'purpose', I know this, and maybe that's all it is. A working through of the age-old decision, that my purpose would be to raise good children. I can accept this is no longer valid, I can accept that I don't actually need a purpose. Maybe that's the point, I can accept all this, but I haven't actually accepted it. And I am funnelling the rage at having to accept this into the SO.

I don't know. That may be part of it. The specific rage began when we went out for dinner on Friday. And SO could not get us a table/chairs. So either I deal with him standing behind me, hanging on to all his luggage, or leave. I chose to leave but clearly felt shortchanged. Yes, I was late, but surely he could have made more of an effort? This, along with a few other things, struck me today. That there are things he doesn't do for me, which make me feel that I am not worth the effort to him. Which is a shitty way to feel. He may not mean to make me feel this way, but I believe I've told him enough times.

All this is tied up in my mind with him not being able to take care of me, which makes me feel that I don't trust him, so don't want to have children with him. It's a hopeless tangle, because I really want children, but I don't want them with him, and I can't leave him. So you see... the future includes him, and no children. And on days when I'm angry with him, I'm furious. Because I don't want him, and I want children, and I'm stuck in this situation which I cannot change.

And there we have it. This is why I'm so furious. To the extent where I really wish he would leave me, or let me leave him, so I can be without him, and potentially meet someone who wants children. Thereby, having hope of the ++ instead of the -- that days like this feel like.

The thing is, I'm also tired. Tired beyond belief because work has been stressful. SO has been... not helpful, to the extent where dinner and groceries are still very much my problem to plan and acquire. He says otherwise, but his attitude when things are not available suggests otherwise. Anyway, let's say his work has been stressful too. And then there's all this angst in my life, which means there's angst in his life. Unlike me though, he doesn't think through stuff. He just puts it aside and gets on with life. Not like the issue is gone, or that he's fine, he's just ignoring it and being cold to me, or not understanding what I need. The most progress is made when I am able to think through his situation, understand it, explain it to him, and explain what he can do to make things better. Which has been too much effort for a while, so I've not done it. Do I want to now? Should it matter whether I want to, shouldn't I do it anyway? 

Distances Untravelled

I went on a road trip over the last weekend. Left on Friday, returned on Sunday. SO could not make it due to work, and the trip was with a bunch of Harley owners. It was FUN! The ride was fantastic, the destination was fantastic, the partying was... nice. There will be some politics, but I plan to stay far away from that.

The job in Singapore is an almost done deal, and the more 'done' it gets, the sadder I am about the bike. Selling the bike is a real option, but having spent this much time on this bike, I am not sure I want to part with it. It is not only my decision, the bike also belongs to SO, but I've spent much more time on it and am certainly more attached to it than he is.

Personalities are funny things. People do stuff, they make mistakes etc., and sometimes they realise and want to fix stuff, but more often than not, they are sure that they are right, so no mistakes have been made. From there, grow issues, and eventually, politics. Repeatedly.

I am learning to 'be' or maybe even 'be here now'. There are various philosophies that talk about how the person is a myth, that all of us are just awareness. Any notion of a 'self' are just manifestations of ego. I understand all of this, and this idea brings me tremendous peace. I am still grappling though, with why I should work if this is the case. This 'beingness' also makes me question physical urges (of which I have many). It also makes me question relationships. I suppose to a true follower, all these things fall away, and the follower becomes a sage/sanyasi. I suppose I have not yet reached this stage. What I have though, is been able to admit that my yearning for children, intimacy etc. are all just manifestations of an ego, not of my true state, one of awareness/consciousness.

How I Know I Tried

Things got better, then they got the same... with the SO, I'm not sure things will ever be fine. There's an ongoing tension between what I want and what he can give me. Sometimes it lines up and things are good, but maybe all those times require him to stretch. So the minute he cannot keep up the stretch, things start falling apart again. I've tried lowered expectations, and frankly, what I have now are plenty low. What remains true though, is that I cannot leave him. Even if in that potential future, we are both happier.

I think I mentioned it, but in February, we got our new motorcycle. It's a Harley Davidson and it's bloody heavy. It's a pleasure to ride, but it's heavy and I have dropped it 3 times so far. Twice it didn't actually make it to the ground, just got to a stage where I could not pick it up. This last time, I dropped it on the other side, where there is potential for parts to touch the ground, so they did. Each time it has fallen, I have struggled with it, and the next day, the relevant arm and shoulder muscles let me know. This last time, Sunday, I wasn't sure how/why I dropped it. I wasn't sure that I tried hard enough to keep it up. On Monday though, the familiar ache let me know that I had tried.

It's a twisted metaphor, but it's the same with me and this relationship. Every so often I think I am not trying enough and then I feel this pain. The pain of putting myself out there, and I know I tried.

In other news, I got a promotion at work. I was not expecting it, and my boss is not very communicative or expressive. I don't get along very well with her, to be frank, but we manage. But because of this dynamic, I wasn't expecting much so the promotion was certainly very welcome. I am also interviewing for a job (in the same organization) which will take me to Singapore.

I studied in Singapore many years ago, and have visited a couple of times since, so it's a familiar place. It's close to home and so easy to live in, that I'm quite looking forward to that part. The only misgivings I have are that I'm not wedded to a future in this organization, and was looking forward to starting something on my own, taking some time off etc. Though if I remember correctly, working in Singapore is not too stressful. People wrap up at a reasonable hour and have time off. The main challenge is motivation, I'll find it somewhere.

I Am Not Able

I do not know what it is, but I am not able to relate with the SO anymore. I am torn up inside, but it seems like the only thing I want to do is to kick free and rise to the surface. I don't even understand what this means, but that is the image I have.

Can it be that we have both drifted very far away from a relationship? That we have got comfortable living our own lives, intersecting only when we have to, not even wanting more? If that is the case, why am I so angry? Part of the anger is because if this is the case, I want out. But I know that is a hellish option. SO will not let me out, he'll promise again that everything will be different, that he'll do whatever it is I want, but it won't last.

I don't even want to try anymore, I just want out.

The worst though, is that I have been here before as well, but I've always relented. Said let's give it another shot, for a few days/weeks, things are better. Then we flounder again, and I'm sick of floundering, or of being the one responsible for keeping this thing going.

I've been here before as well, expressed exhaustion at dragging this relationship along.

I don't know what to do, and apparently what works is distraction, getting involved in someone else's life/story. So I'm going to watch movies, read books, read random blogs and maybe consider meeting a therapist again.

Opposites

It feels weird to blog about this but it's affecting me, and I need to be able to continue working without this baggage, so I'm putting it on here. I don't want to tell friends as they will stress for me, I don't want to tell family because I don't think they will understand.

I spoke with SO last weekend, saying this marriage isn't working for me. I feel very alone and lonely, but that I won't leave him. He said he heard and would do something. That was Saturday I think. Today is Thursday. We have not exchanged a word since Sunday night. On Sunday night I asked him something about whether he thinks of me, he said yes, but then he puts it out of his mind.

I feel now like that has been my place in this relationship. There is always something more important or urgent or both. I know I have said as much before, just that over the past few months, I've been trying not to be affected by him and his lack of attention/affection. This doesn't change the things I want, just that increasingly, I don't want them from him. Like now, even if he wants to talk to me, I doubt very much that I will be willing to talk about anything but pleasantries or share information that needs to be shared.

I guess this is a breakdown in communications. Coming hot on the heels of my telling him I feel alone, I do not understand it at all. This is exactly the opposite of what I expected. More fool me for having expectations?

Simple Answers, Difficult Questions

I was introspecting again, wondering at why I'm in a slightly blue funk and why it seems to me like a puppy or a baby would help me. Sure, it would be another 'development' opportunity, but what it is, is the affection that the simple hearted show and share. What I am missing is a regular dose of affection in the form of cuddles, or even 'warm body' snuggling. Both of which I know that dogs and babies are excellent at.

Maybe that's what it comes down to, I am, at heart, an affectionate human being. I didn't always come across as such, and I am not sure that any of my friends would describe me as affectionate, but I feel the need greatly. SO... much less so. I knew this, didn't I?

Peaked?

I feel a sense of well-being and completeness that I've actually never experienced before. I'm not exercising, I'm not actually eating healthy, I'm not being sensible for the most part, but I'm... confident. I now know what the basic rules of life are and I'm relieved.

Some time ago, I told SO that he should enjoy me as I am now, as it'll soon start going downhill. Why? Because right now, I know enough and am a nice/kind person. Why will this change? Because I will soon begin to feel that I know better than other people (I see this in my mother) and that will make me less nice/kind. I hope that this blog, my friends and my own mind/heart will keep me kind, but I cannot be sure.

What are the basic rules? That stuff happens, you can decide how you cope with it. You can also do and be anything you want, once you understand the risks and requirements and are willing to put in the effort. You may not have all the answers all the time, so make sure you consult someone. A trusted advisor is good, but in a pinch, the internet will do. Humility is key though, to always know that you may not have thought of everything and to check with other people for inputs that you may have missed.

Why have I reached this state? In the last month, a good friend got married in Neemrana. Also, my bestest friends met for a day. I also got to spend a lot of time with one of my best friends and had to deal with my growing discomfort with her ... I guess being judgemental/critical? When I met her, she was one of the sweetest and kindest people I knew. She rubbed off on me to a great extent, to where I began to be more social, genuinely interested in people and kind. In some ways I'm sad that she's moved away from this, but what is more concerning is that I will be more guarded in what I say to her because she is more critical than I need and I'm concerned that I'm giving her the wrong impression of people, leading to her treating them a certain way. When I say 'had to deal', I meant I had to come to terms with her as she is now, to learn how to manage this, without losing the friendship.

The real point of that paragraph though, was the wedding. When it was announced, I decided that we would drive from Gurgaon to the venue, because it's about 90kms and we would anyway be staying with another best friend in Gurgaon. This was at a time when the group included SO and my friend's husband. By the time the wedding rolled around, both the men dropped out. I didn't change my plans though, mainly because I didn't want to. We could have dropped the hire idea and instead got a taxi to drop us there, but I didn't see why we should. So I hired and drove an SUV sized vehicle to the wedding and back. I want to feel like this is special, but I'm not sure why it is. Perhaps because it was in a place that was not known to me? Perhaps because the area is generally seen as unsafe? But the driving was all during the day time and I was courteous and professional, and everybody I met was as well.

I have also, in the past w months of this year, acquired 1.5 motorcycles. 1.5 because one is fully mine, the other I share with SO. The one that is 'mine' is an absolute joy. It is practically my pride and joy, it was not hard at all to get used to and it makes me feel happy. The other one... is really new. It's huge and powerful and heavy and when we got it, I was terrified. Then I rode it for a bit, did some net research, spoke to a few people and am more comfortable. Not as comfortable as I am on 'mine' but getting there.

All of this has lead me to the conclusion that all you need is to be mindful. To think about what you want to do, evaluate the situation critically, assess risks and consequences, think about whether the risks and consequences are acceptable to you, check with someone else, make up your mind, then move forward. Occasionally, mistakes will be made, but if you've done all of this, they will be mistakes where were not obvious/stupid. Which is when you say 'stuff happens, I will cope', and move along.

The next thing I have to figure out is how I keep humble. Not in the sense of 'I am blessed', which is relatively easy, but in the sense of 'I'm not such a stud'. 

Chivalry

I've said repeatedly that I'm a die-hard romantic. I like happy endings, I like love stories, etc., but does that mean I like chivalry? I found this blog post today https://mashedmusings.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/role-reversal/ and got to think about it a little more. The blogger is an intelligent and kind man. He has a daughter, but this particular post was written before his daughter was born. He wrote another one as well, about what it feels like to be molested. Basically, having your privacy violated, which is something which unfortunately happened to him on a bus.

When I was young, I was being brought up by the standard 'beware of all men' rules that all girls are fed. Maybe 'brought up' is too broad-brush. I was exposed to these rules, but my mother did not tell me that all men are evil. Nor (naturally) did my father. I suppose now I understand how it works. Girls are not told to be wary of men, just of 'provoking men' or of attracting 'unwanted attention'. There was never ever a discussion about person space and privacy, about how your body, mind and life, belong to you, and you can control who you allow into any of these. In other words, I was being taught to be afraid.

I do not recall which newspaper it was in, and I think I was about 14 years old at the time, but I read an opinion piece (in an Open Page type section) written by a lady who had to travel by train in a coupe in which she was the only woman. She said, and rightly so, that you are trained to expect that men will try to take advantage of you, when most men are regular human beings who would like you to be comfortable, and are more likely to keep firmly out of your way rather than make you uncomfortable. I was old enough to think about this and realise the truth in it.

This made me look for more nuanced behaviours, look for and identify threats, rather than generally avoid all men. It helped me identify who was being helpful and who was being creepy. It allowed me to be friendly, while learning to walk through crowds with my elbows out.

But coming to chivalry, part of growing up for me (and this is still ongoing) is learning that I can take care of all my needs. I appreciate a man opening a door for me, or offering to carry stuff, but in the spirit that he wants to make life a little easier for me, not because I'm a frail thing who cannot do this for herself. I especially appreciate it when men kill cockroaches for me. For though I can accomplish this myself, I have to steel myself to fight and not fly.

Happy New Year!

It is a new year and I'm feeling new. I had a minor epiphany about work and understand a little better what I can do where I currently work, so that is good. Also, I suppose I've been treating my body well (would you believe, by exercising!?) and it is happy with me. Which means no random aches and pains and no joint wobbliness. Also, I find I'm happy with myself. Just, happy being me, happy to be alive. Feeling awesome!

Nothing has really changed, SO and I are still grappling with issues of progeny and busy-ness and my in-laws are visiting, but I'm not traumatised. Maybe I've shelved thinking about unresolvable issues, or accepted (at some deep level) that I'm not going to become a mother, but currently I'm revelling in being me.

A word though, about in-laws. I understand that my mother-in-law thinks she is helping by taking over kitchen duties, and, unlike last time, where I resented her doing things 'not my way', I'm now just redoing things the way I like. I've not offered to help, maybe next time. I think I've slightly realised that if she is insensitive to how I would feel about certain things, then she will also be insensitive to things I do that would upset me if done to me (like rewashing vessels I've washed). Seems to be working, maybe next time she'll actually relax enough to let me cook, though I'm not sure if that's a victory or not ;)