Words

[flexibeast]

Last weekend, sacred_harlot and i came up with a word that we both felt accurately reflected the character of the relationship we currently have: "companions". i'm fascinated by the power that words can have over us. i had started to feel that the phrase 'intimate friends' actually diminished what sacred_harlot and i have between us; and yet, even though many people (poly people, at least) would regard us as being 'partners' for all intents and purposes, sacred_harlot didn't feel comfortable with us using that word. It's all about connotations; and when it comes to very personal things like relationships, connotations can be difficult to dismiss. (My father, for example, doesn't like the word 'partner' as a way of describing an intimate relationship, because for him it carries the impersonal, perhaps mercenary connotation of 'business partner'.) So i'm quite chuffed that sacred_harlot and i have found a word that we both feel comfortable with using to describe our relationship. :-)

i must say, i'm so happy that she and i are at this point. With my mental health problems, there were many occasions on which sacred_harlot's amazing patience was stretched very thin . . . . but the many discussions i've had with her about those problems really helped me to get a grip on them, such that their more full-on aspects are now pretty much under control. (sacred_harlot has said on a number of occasions recently how much i've changed since she and i first met.) So although my physical health limitations are just as present as ever, at least our relationship isn't being put under stress due to my mental health issues.

It's great to have people like sacred_harlot around to help one change for the better. :-)