Hello, I love you, won't you tell me your name? -Jim Morrison
It is most wonderful to be here, in this time and place, sharing this life with you. Here's a little about my life so we can get to know each other better my friend, oh, and you may call me 'Rob'.
I grew up in a broken home, ultimately leading me to have serious trust and jealousy issues. I had a fairly standard childhood. Which is to say it appears normal but was anything but. I made it to high school, fell in love with a 'hippy chic' as my friend introduced us. The polar opposite of my Bible Belt upbringing. It was great, until we started trying to fit the mold.
It got bad, codependant bad. We got married, went to college, and it got worse. I was angry, paranoid and suspicious. She lost that sparkle, gained a hundred pounds, and was nearly without the confidence to step out the door.
Bad things happened, betrayal, total invasion of privacy, it was a nightmare. We both dropped out, but were still together, determined to find out what was wrong.
I went to the navy. She went to her parents' in Arizona. We'd talked about poly before, but I wouldn't until I was well. I was sick you see, at the beginning, and eventually my poison spread to her. My insecurity. Cracks in my perception began to happen.
I was not jealous at all of my wife being with a woman, in any way. Why?
I knew that was odd. It didn't hold water. I dug into it.
I knew that nothing could hurt me so bad I wouldn't want to be with her, and she felt the same so what then? If the rules are there to keep it together, what good are they if it can't fail?
This began the changing. Of everything. At first, it was telling each other about crushes. Silly things, but oh so vital. Then, we'd had sex in the room with some good friends, played strip poker with them. Got used to the idea that sex is great, but it was slow going for me. Her confidence returned.She began to treat her body right.
This year, there have been struggles, definition of boundaries unrealized until they got crossed. Basic safety stuff, and some more pacing considerations for me.
But wow! Bottle it and call it life! Nothing long term has resulted, and that's the goal, but we've had so many good things come even from the bad. My wife is down 89 pounds, she feels sexy again, and her love of life is back. I'm trusting, terrified at times, but I just ask, say what I feel and I can count on the support, in turn letting go of a little more of that poison.
We've dated, swung with some close friends, building guidelines and taking steps, looking, sharing and being in love again, with plenty to share.
I'm spellbound as I sit and reflect. Utterly awestruck.
Terrified, excited, full of wonder. I feel like a kid again.
See you all on the boards,
With love,
-Rob
It is most wonderful to be here, in this time and place, sharing this life with you. Here's a little about my life so we can get to know each other better my friend, oh, and you may call me 'Rob'.
I grew up in a broken home, ultimately leading me to have serious trust and jealousy issues. I had a fairly standard childhood. Which is to say it appears normal but was anything but. I made it to high school, fell in love with a 'hippy chic' as my friend introduced us. The polar opposite of my Bible Belt upbringing. It was great, until we started trying to fit the mold.
It got bad, codependant bad. We got married, went to college, and it got worse. I was angry, paranoid and suspicious. She lost that sparkle, gained a hundred pounds, and was nearly without the confidence to step out the door.
Bad things happened, betrayal, total invasion of privacy, it was a nightmare. We both dropped out, but were still together, determined to find out what was wrong.
I went to the navy. She went to her parents' in Arizona. We'd talked about poly before, but I wouldn't until I was well. I was sick you see, at the beginning, and eventually my poison spread to her. My insecurity. Cracks in my perception began to happen.
I was not jealous at all of my wife being with a woman, in any way. Why?
I knew that was odd. It didn't hold water. I dug into it.
I knew that nothing could hurt me so bad I wouldn't want to be with her, and she felt the same so what then? If the rules are there to keep it together, what good are they if it can't fail?
This began the changing. Of everything. At first, it was telling each other about crushes. Silly things, but oh so vital. Then, we'd had sex in the room with some good friends, played strip poker with them. Got used to the idea that sex is great, but it was slow going for me. Her confidence returned.She began to treat her body right.
This year, there have been struggles, definition of boundaries unrealized until they got crossed. Basic safety stuff, and some more pacing considerations for me.
But wow! Bottle it and call it life! Nothing long term has resulted, and that's the goal, but we've had so many good things come even from the bad. My wife is down 89 pounds, she feels sexy again, and her love of life is back. I'm trusting, terrified at times, but I just ask, say what I feel and I can count on the support, in turn letting go of a little more of that poison.
We've dated, swung with some close friends, building guidelines and taking steps, looking, sharing and being in love again, with plenty to share.
I'm spellbound as I sit and reflect. Utterly awestruck.
Terrified, excited, full of wonder. I feel like a kid again.
See you all on the boards,
With love,
-Rob