Exactly five years ago, I woke up in the morning next to my girlfriend-at-the-time. It was our one-year anniversary. We were traveling together and staying at a friend’s house.
The night before, I had hidden my present for her near the bed. So now I reached for it, and I suppose with a kiss and something about a happy anniversary, I gave her the present.
It was a gold necklace. I’d spent quite a bit of time, effort, and money in the hunt for it. I thought it was very pretty. My mom, who helped with the hunt, thought so also.
I don’t know what my ex thought.
But when I gave her the necklace, she started to cry. Not tears of joy.
I didn’t bother asking what was wrong. In my experience with women, that’s not a question that gets a useful or honest answer.
But it’s not just women. People are like that. They often cannot or will not express the things that matter most to them. Sometimes, they can’t even face those things directly in consciousness.
I’ll never know why my ex was crying that morning. But I have some ideas.
And that’s the only good thing about this human habit.
Even though people are secretive with their deep-down fears, disappointments, and hopes, we all have these. And they are not that many in number.
So if you listen to enough people or read enough stories, you will eventually collect a complete catalogue of these personal secrets. You’ll have a good idea of what’s going on inside people — without even asking what’s wrong.
And then you can decide what to do, for your own benefit, or for theirs.
Ok, so much for reminiscing. Now looking forward, specifically to tomorrow:
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