So what have I done about it? Well it's still a practicing effort, but I don't just listen to what a man says. I look to see the connection in a man's actions. Are they putting as much of an effort into the relationship? Do I feel that they really feel what they say they are feeling? And to a fault, I am skeptical at best that they truly mean what they say. Our best ally is our gut feeling – and we are very guilty of ignoring it. When we ignore it we are destined to get hurt.
I've seen women that only give as much as they receive from a man, they never share more than what is shared with them, and they never let a man know how they truly feel. I am not suggesting that is the solution, but to a degree there is something to be said for it. Personally, I can't do that.
I know only one way to be – up front, open, and loving. To hold back makes me think I am robbing myself of the full experience of sharing with a man – it feels like betrayal. But the catch 22 is I am much more vulnerable to being hurt. As one of my friends says to me – you'll learn after you've been hurt a 100 times. Well I never claimed to be a quick learner – but a 100? I don't think one's heart can bear that much hurt.