I believe you, Gziu!

I recognize that my situation was singular in my own life and that women are experiencing this over and over again. I promise to try never to contribute to that experience for anyone ever again. I'm sure I did in the past.

How did it feel? It felt bewildering when it was over, abruptly and without explanation...but initially, doing more emotional work felt great, to be honest. Listening more, asking more questions, centering her experience: those all felt like building blocks for greater connection between us and a way for me to become a "better person," as trite as that often sounds.

That's what scares me. I'm not sure I've learned how to "pick better next time." I'll want to cultivate most of those very forms of connection again. I certainly don't want to identify small disconnections as red flags instead of areas of needed and potential growth. I want to give and receive grace. If I'm missing something, please point it out! I think that all I can do is pick next time; whether it's better or not, time will tell.

Thanks so much for engaging in the conversation.