Dontaskme wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 11:50 am
CAN people just be 'present' with other people and not want absolutely anything from them, and still want them?
I think so. I don't think those are mutually exclusive (not that you said they were but the question could imply it.) We can want things and then also not want anything but to be near someone over the course of day, in and out.
I want things from my wife: love, attention, humor, creativity, cuddling, sex, companionship, sympathy, hell, even intervention when I am self-destructive or idiotic. I'm sure there's more.
But I also love her essence - I am not making some grand ontological claim, just finding the best word I can.
The way she is/what she is. I like being in the same room. And often nothing has to be done. She can be reading, but that room is vastly more appealing when she is there. Most of the time. Sometimes I want to be alone or with others.
And then beyond the sitting in the room with me or lying in bed next to me but not directly doing anything with me or paying particular attention to me, there's my wanting to make eye contact or experience her.
Much of what happens early on in the relationship. We can call this attraction to beauty, but there are lots of women who are attractive looking but I feel no urge to just sort of be around them or be quietly intimate with them.
So, that stuff in the crush, infatuation, it continue even if its not in the early manic forms.
(I'm wandering but that's because I am actually exploring this here)
Yes, one might say personality. In the sense that there are specific tones, or fragrances (not being literal here) to another person's essence. But it's not about being her being outgoing or joyful or other personality words.
Essence is the best word I can think of.
I love her essence and want to be around her.
(none of this means it's all skipping through fields of flowers. We have our tensions and frustrations and disagreements, being human and all and not actors in a coke commercial)