Thursday, September 16, 2010

Give So Much More Than I Get

I know me, and I know that if I were in a relationship, I would definitely give more than most people would expect. But I have been in enough relationships to learn how not to be a doormat. So, yes, I will give. I only ask for a few things in return:
  1. I want someone who will say my name. One of my boyfriends spoke it as if it were poetry, and it truly was. That was a level of respect I was not afforded in my first marriage where I was referred to as "you" (as in, "can you come here?") No name, no pet name. Just "you" - the absolute level of disrespect. And I'm betting he still wonders why I left.
  2. Honesty. I just want as much honesty as possible. I understand there are little white lies in every relationship; I can live with that. I can't live with not knowing if my spouse left me for the stripper he kept talking about. Yeah, that will do a number on your ego.
  3. Saying what you mean. I guess that goes along with being honest. If you're not happy, tell me you're not happy - I would rather not be with someone who's not happy. I think one of the most aggravating things about my last relationship was that I tried to break up several times, but he kept convincing me to stay. Then he broke up with me - because he was unhappy. Huh? Maybe this was more of an ego issue than being honest, but I still wonder about that.
  4. Being open-minded. Okay, I have accepted a lot from the men who I have loved (yes, loved - I can honestly say I loved them). I realized what sickens me is this narrow-minded way of thinking that I realized so many of them had. I don't see life that way - I don't know if I will ever find anyone who sees things the way I do. I'm not naive. I just don't judge people by their financial situation, size, race, religious beliefs, sexual preferences, etc. I judge them on whether or not they are an asshole. And even there, I believe Karma is the final decider (as in, out of my hands).
  5. Oh, and I should say a sense of humor is important to me. So, so important to me. That is definitely a dealbreaker.
So, I think that's it. This is something I can go back to, especially when I am beginning to believe I might be in love with a narrow-minded, dishonest, racist, disrespectful jerk.

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