Me On Me

One of the things I find most difficult to explain to D is my need for “me-time” without making him feel that he is lacking as a person and as a partner.

Me-time is a peculiar thing. I’m not sure if it’s something that developed as my way of dealing with loneliness during my single years. Is it cosmic predisposition (I’m Pisces)? Or perhaps it’s my family circumstances (after years of sharing a room with my older brother, when he married I had the whole room to myself; my mom eventually dubbed it “Joel’s sanctum sanctorium”). Whatever the reason, there are times when I just want to retreat inside my head.

Me-time is not really all that dramatic. I don’t need a special place or ritual accompanying it. And I don’t need to push people away during me-time. In fact, we can be in the same area and time; just don’t freak out if I’m quiet and preoccupied. I am just reconnecting with myself. And that’s basically what it is. Self-awareness means seeking out one’s self once in a while.

I am sure that D also has his quiet times. And I think that the more of Life he experiences, the more he will need his own me-time. One of the things we all need to learn is that we should be our own biggest fans. No matter how much assistance and support I extend to D, he will still need time to embrace and take care of himself.