Reading other blogs (one new one in particular) has given me an insight to myself. It’s not particularly profound or flattering, but I’ll share my thoughts anyway because I’m so grateful to have had them.
I have to be the most important person in Antonio’s life in order to feel happy and whole. And I need him to feel the same way about me.
I can’t share rank, I can’t be okay if he gives parts of himself to other people that I view as MINE.
I’m selfish.
I’m not okay with us engaging in any sort of outside romantic relationships, whatever form they may take – from random flings to the formation of a polyamorous family. That entire spectrum is off limits. Not okay with it. Nope. If it were to happen tomorrow, I’d die. Or, at least, I’d make a solid effort to die.
But there are people who have truly beautiful relationships either with partners who are married or otherwise in relationships, or people in polyamorous families. And I know they are happy and whole. I see it and I smile, as I do for all people who are in loving relationships.
So I sat here thinking: “I’ve got to ask myself. What does that mean about ME that I can’t be happy with that?”
I feel the need to be a “unit” with Antonio. I feel at my very best when our relationship-attention is focused solely on each other. I feel something very powerful when our lists of human priorities are direct mirrors. He is my mirror. Not my opposite but my complement. My mirror. Heck, even our birthdays are six months apart.
We are polarized personalities, and we definitely attract. Where I am sure, he is cautious. Where I am weak, he is strong. We agree on a million fundamental things from self-evident personal freedoms to comedy and those things keep us solid, and we differ on enough ideas (and ideals) to keep challenging each other (in a good way!) to grow without disliking each other.
This two-person symbiosis is sexy and sublime.
So, like I said… I want (and feel I need) to be the most important person in my Master’s life, and he in mine. I want no compromises on this, no clauses or bargains or contexts. This unit has to matter above all else, to both of us.
And that’s where the trouble comes, for me. Because I know it’s fine for me to say “I do NOT ever want to be with another man. No way, no how. I’m owned, I’m his, that’s IT” because I know that’s what he wants from me. I’m in line with his desires by nature not by force, and it feels perfect.
But… As I do belong to him, is it within my “rights” so to speak, to think he needs to feel the same way? I dunno. The obvious answer is “No.” But it was something we talked about, VERY early on, the idea of monogamy. It’s important, so of course we talked about it. And he said he was a one-woman man. Period. And I do trust him on that.
But I was still stuck thinking the other day… I feel it is a necessity that he continue to feel that way… Is that selfish? Is that immature? Is it because I need the security in order to be calm enough to function? Is it simply a facet of me, not a good thing or a bad thing, just a THING? Is it un-submissive or un-slavelike? Is it perfectly fine, because it’s just who I am and how I feel and something we established as we mapped out our relationship? And on and on and on. Maybe one of those, all of those, or none of those… I don’t know.
And I’m just so terrified of it changing on his part. Not for any real reason. Just for the same reason I’m terrified that because he has a cough right now, he’s probably got that swine flu thing and is going to die, like, tomorrow. Because I’m nuts, in short.
Then I reached a conclusion.
I’m just not going to think about it.
I’m not going to figure out what it means.
I’m not going to figure out why I feel this way.
I’m not going to figure out what it says about me or us or anything.
Not not not.
I haven’t been asked to think about it. I have been told repeatedly by the only voice that matters to me that it’s not on his radar; it’s not something he wants or thinks about or has ever desired. So until he says I’ve got to sit down and figure out the “why” behind my feelings or the “what if’s” that lurk as fears, I’m just not going to.
It’s not really about avoidance… There are (obviously) plenty of things I muse about that I’m not under orders to think about. Sometimes they are hard topics but they’ve never felt damaging before. This one does.
I can’t really explain it. At my lowest moments, in my darkest dreams, one thought I can torture myself with to the point of tears and pain so acute I can’t breathe is thinking about him with someone else. I’ve done it, to hurt myself before. It’s an ultimate pain, for me.
So even though I’m intrigued and often awed by people who are capable of such open love, such compersion, compassion, and clarity… Even though I want to engage with them about their lives and their loves and lovers… Even though I think there are lessons to be learned that can be applied to my life, it hurts me to think about it in the context of my relationship.
So I’m not gonna.
And for some reason, letting his lack of an order translate into sort of the both of us giving me permission to simply live in the moment and not obsess and worry… Well, it’s strange. Good. VERY good. But strange.
I don’t kid myself. I know there might come a time when I need to think about it, or even just want to think about it for some reason. But that time is not now. Right now, I want to learn, absorb, and ask questions only insofar as it engages my mind and makes me happy to learn about my friends and their lives. But I don’t want to arrive at any personal conclusions.
And for some reason, it’s an incredibly peaceful moment. The letting go. The not worrying, simply because he has said it’s not something I need to worry about.
I know that sounds a little simple and silly: He says don’t worry, and I don’t. And it might seem a little dumb that I’m over the frigging moon about being able to obey this order.
But I’m not good at leaving worries behind, un-rubbed and un-fostered. In fact, it’s probably my worst skill. He says “don’t worry” and try as I might, I fail nearly 100% of the time. I am a worrier. (I even posted a meme in here once that asked what I do in my free time. My answer? ”I fret.” It’s true.)
But this time, I’m not worrying. I’m not ignoring, or pretending not to worry, or keeping worries to myself. I’m honestly not worrying at ALL. About something big and scary.
I’m obeying. And it feels like SUCH a victory.
Big thanks to the darling friend who (perhaps inadvertently) helped me think about this, just by talking to me and listening to me ramble.
I’m a very happy girl tonight.
(And one of these days, you know, in the next century or so, I am GOING to update my frickin’ blogroll. It’s getting out of hand the number of blogs I want to and/or have been investigating but have not put on my reader or my blogroll. FFS, Chlo, get going, kiddo.)
Dear Chloe,
I’m not in a Master/slave relationship, so my thoughts on the subject may be irrelevant, but here goes anyway: regardless of the dynamic of the relationship (M/s, D/s, DD, vanilla…) it is still a relationship, which means that you entered into it based on expectations and promises. You both have the right to change your minds, or simply change in general. When and if that happens, you have a right to be unhappy if you are not getting what you bargained for. In your case, it sounds like monogamy was part of the deal. If you later decide to renegotiate, no problem, but Master or no Master, if he decides independently that he wants to bring more people into the ‘contract’ he has with you, you have EVERY right to say no. It may mean the end of the relationship, but that’s your right too. (I realize that as a slave, you have forfeited rights, but you always have the right to leave.)
As far as the sense of calm that has come from obeying, that’s wonderful!
Fondly,
Constance
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I totally relate to your post. I went through a few blogs on this subject myself, and tore myself to pieces over it. Therefore, I’ve chosen not to think about it (as much as possible) until I’m forced to do so.
Sometimes avoidance is the best policy…and the best way to keep your relationship going smoothly.
butterfly
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Chloe,
First, for what’s it’s worth from another not-slave, you DID make agreements, commitments to each other, and expecting those basics to be upheld is the foundation upon which the more free floating submission sits, IMO.
Second, excessive worrying or ruminating is an indicator of generalized anxiety. If it becomes too much, see a Dr!
Third, again just my opinion, there is a psychic structure within our makeup that drives our feeling just right being part of as couple…yin and yang. While I would not argue with someone who feels fulfilled in another way, most people are not happy long term in polyamory. I have learned that they do seem to pay a heavy emotional price. Most people ARE happy in monogamy.
I am glad Antonio ordering you to stop worrying worked and I hope you are able to continue with that!
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One thing that I’ve realized about love is that sometimes, it just can’t be analyzed. I never would have thought that I would ever fall in love with a woman, but I did. I went through my period of questioning it, of playing the “why” game until the only answer I could come up with is that it works for me, and I want it. Is that selfish? Hell yes. But selfishness is only bad when it’s denying someone else something.
Just because something works for one person does not mean that it should work for another. Whenever someone asks me about having multiple partners, I always say one thing: It’s more work than you’ll ever imagine. There are people who thrive in such relationships, and people who don’t. One situation is not better than the other – they are simply two different, and equal, situations.
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I’m happy that you’re happy sweety. ‘Worry’, especially over things which we may never need to worry about, can be damaging (though I’m not sure I think ‘ruminating’ is – unless its done from a ‘worrisome’ place).
You have what’s right for you…..and you’re open hearted and open minded enough to embrace that for others it may be different. That’s a very special gift.
love and hugs xxx
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Living in the moment and not “borrowing trouble” (a great phrase from my grandma) is tough! Same thing is going on here. Master just got through telling me I must strive to accept life as it is now. Or, as Garth said, “Live in the now!!!” heh
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i have recently found your blog, and for some reason what you say resonates strongly with me. i can most definitely relate to this post, to the worrying, to the over-analysis, even to the need to think “what if”. i used to say it was a way to prepare for the worst, but i came to realize that it was my way of expecting the worst…simply because i could never accept that i would have anything but the worst.
No, it isn’t un-submissive or un-slave to think about your needs and to worry about them being met. Many who live an M/s lifestyle see playing with others, or involvement with others in an intimate, even if temporarily so, way – as normal, usual, even expected. So for us who have a monogamous relationship, it may be easy to feel different and as if we’re not “normal” by liking the monogamy.
Believe me when i say that i have struggled mightily with this issue, and some others i have read about your own struggles with in your blog. i really love how you can laugh at yourself but it is so obvious how much time, effort, and emotional energy you have put into your own growth as a slave, and as a person.
Thank you for opening your mind and giving us a peek into you. i’m going to really enjoy reading your thoughts, and gleaning the wisdom from them as well.
schiava, owned by Franti
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Chloe Reply:
May 5th, 2009 at 8:12 am
schiava, what a wonderful comment… thank you!
I just popped open your blog in a new tab, and I see you’re in a long-distance relationship. I will definitely be reading, and I will definitely be asking questions, and maybe looking for some advice. If you’ve read a couple entries, or my “About” page, then you know my relationship is currently long-distance too. It can be really hard for me. Sometimes, I just feel like the pressure to want to touch him again, smell him again, watch him again, be able to lie with him in comfortable silence again… Is all WAY too much. And then I just start failing at life. It’s annoying, frustrating, and I always feel like I’m being manipulative, somehow, if I let it get to me.
OMG, stop rambling, Chloe!
Anyway, I’ll see you in your blog, and hopefully back here too!
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