this one is challenging to write
ive spent too much time in my life
feeling down about how i want more attention
than i get
but its up for me right now
and i feel more confident
and easy about my life right now
and time carved for this anyway
so here i go
in relationship
i have a standard
its related to the amount of time it takes
for a message to connect
be read
and then responded to
my standard is reasonable
its a litmus test of sorts
within minutes
within hours
within a day
within the week
weeks later
depending on the content of the
outbound message
these gradients show me how much
of a priority
i am in your life
when you see my message you acted immediately
even though it might have been an interruption
you read and respond promptly
without hesitation or planning
for better or for worse
texting is easier than ever
emojis make it possible to
respond without words
thats not always satisfying either
but at least it shows an acknowledgement
of message recieved
and something has been responded
i even use this litmus test on myself
when a lover sends a note
i enjoy the immediate emotional boost i get
for me
its natural to respond with enthusiasm
if i am not responding in that way
then i have to check in with myself
and be honest about how interested i might be in this person
if i have questions
or barriers unspoken
then it is time to speak them
period
i dont keep hanging on
without words
for weeks
a small personal story to share:
recently i met a girl at a sex party
she and i got the delicious opportunity to make out and sweat with each other
we stumbled into a bedroom and groped for what felt like too short of a time
i was mesmerized with her
she was more intrigued by the collective social scene
and delightfully communicated both her interest in me and her curiosity to be around others during the event
i noted this as a highly evolved state
to be aroused and engaged
and fully aware of the range of desire and emotion in the moment
after the event and after weeks passed
i reached out and we reconnected
the mutual interest continued
then suddenly stopped
i was left hanging without explanation
we recently reconnected at a show
an unlikely place for me to be
but there i was
alone
and it was awkward to reconnect
because of the gap
late that evening she noted that she was interested in continuing a relationship
that she was sorry for the gap
acknowledging her intent had never been for silence
but that there were real circumstances
and most importantly that the interest persists
most of the time i feel nitpicky about this
but its time i mark the standard
and stop the addictive behavior that happens when i am NOT getting
frequency