sunshinemiss
Posts: 17673
Joined: 11/26/2007 Status: offline
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Ok, more seriously.... I really am pretty guarded personally. I don't let people in quickly or easily, but when I do I'm fairly loyal. If you fuck that up, though, it's damn near impossible to get back into my good graces. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me! I don't trust easily. I don't believe what people say. I check it out - not as in I go skulking about and hide to see if they really do work where they say they do. Although with someone online you'd better believe I google them, look up their company online, etc. But here's how I check them out - What I do is listen to what they say and make sure their behavior and their words match. Are they consistent in their beliefs and behaviors? What does their face say? Is there tension? Are they at peace with themselves? Do they admit to their own quirks and foibles? I'm a people watcher. I was in a group the other day and someone asked if it was my first time, and I said no it was my 3rd or 4th... because I'd been so quiet the other times, watching and listening that I wasn't noticeable. (Hard to believe with my big fat mouth!) I'm also pretty nervous in a large group of people I don't know, that people watching serves me well. For me, getting to know someone personally means getting to know them (generally speaking) in a group setting with other folks. I can see how they interact one on one, how they interact with a group, with men, with women, the wait staff if it's at a restaurant, do they know how to listen? Do they name call? Are they able to keep calm in a heated argument? etc. I get a lot of information about people from that, and from there I can make my decision about whether to proceed forward. I want people to SHOW ME who they are rather than tell me. I do my best to hold back on really putting my emotions into things until then. It doesn't always work, and even though I check people out (ask around about them - I am from the midwest after all...), I am sometimes wrong wrong wrong! But usually this method works well for me. And yes, I have been loved deeply and loved deeply in return. I've also had some other relationships that grew very slowly because of my approach. It can be frustrating for the other people, but that's just too bad. It is who I am. I am not desperate, I am not easy, but I'm well worth the effort. Mind you, I put in my own effort to get to know someone I'm interested in - this is not a one way street I'm talking about. So, going slowly... for me means putting my emotions in check, paying attention, and verifying. Anyone who has become my friend has been through this process... as have I! And so have my lovers. best wishes to you and Val (have y'all noticed going through this process yourselves? *wink), sunshine
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Yes, I am a wonton hussy... and still sweet as 3.14
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