Posted by Matt on July 31, 2001 at 19:40:43:
In Reply to: Re: be honest, be direct. posted by Jeff on July 31, 2001 at 14:47:28:
Hi,
I've lost more than one girlfriend over my introverted nature, and I know exactly what you mean. I find it hard to talk about the way I feel partly because I'm often preoccupied, but mostly because I'm just like that. My strategy for coping with this odd quirk of my nature is to write/type a letter setting out the way I feel about things in general, or a specific event, or both. I've never given one of these letters to a girlfriend (I don't generally keep them), and I don't only write them when the shit has hit the fan. The reason for this is that when it does (or is about to), I just think back to the last letter and what was written in it. Then I have a foundation upon which to build a sensible, sensitive, honest and complete reply to my partner. I think the answer (for me) is definately in giving myself personal space to sort things out, AND by formalising/organising my feelings into an explicit fashion.
If all else fails, give it go, you might not have anything to lose!
Regards,
Matt