New relationship buds and blooms

“It’s a love story. Baby, just say yes..."

That’s what Taylor Swift said, right? Say yes. Should be that simple. But it's not that simple. Nothing ever is.

Having  said that, it’s only as complicated as I make it. And so, armed with attraction that is physical, mental and emotional, I said yes. Yes to spending an increasing amount of time with the Beautiful Human Being (BHB). Yes to trying new adventures. Yes to letting this man into my life. Oh sure, I can lie and say I kept walls up and impenetrable but why lie? I didn’t sink immediately into love, love that keeps me awake at night, love that makes me overthink, over be, overdo. However, I took a risk and let him into my life faster than I should have. What is "faster," though? What amount of time is the right amount of time to wait? Wait to connect physically? Wait to have conversations that are deep? Wait to feel what I’m being called to feel without reservation? 

Every adventure makes us laugh and smile. We’ve been to the symphony. We’ve been bowling with the sole purpose of declaring a winner and ensuring the loser has to say “you’re right” for an entire week. I did not win. My knees don’t bend and I’m waiting on knee replacements. No mercy.

We’ve been axe throwing and I took him to a pop-up burlesque show. We’ve been to movies and  to Costco for hot dogs. 

We’ve done hippy dippy stuff — sound bath, sacred cacao ceremony. Fire walking — I walked across hot coals, twice. 

I’ve gifted him a carnelian heart. Funny story, that. In January, before I met him, I felt drawn to carnelian. I was perusing through crystals at my favourite workshop studio and found a small carnelian heart. I was drawn to a second one, as well, and bought them both, not understanding why. After I met the BHB, I knew why — one was meant for him. He cherished that heart and took it in his every pocket until the universe decided that it needed to be gifted to another who needed it more. 

I’ve listened and questioned as he’s explained his learning in his shamanic course. I’ve been inspired to attend drumming circles on my own and explore spirit animals. I’ve done some energy work. It’s all felt natural, a goulash if you will, of spirituality borrowed from many different avenues and stirred together for me. 

We send reels to each other that range from sweet to loving to raunchy and it grows our appreciation for each other even more.

We did a community cooking class and, this month, we have booked a mosaic lamp-making workshop and an escape room adventure. 

We are talking about a couple of road trips. It’ll be a test: whose snacks are better, who needs to stop for more bathroom breaks. We are both up for the challenge.

There have also been a few hiccups. A woman he crushed on awhile back sending flirtatious messages and him not stopping them because he hates to offend. The conversation was simple. I would never tell him who he can and can’t converse with; however, by not stopping the messages, he’s choosing not hurting her over hurting me. He understood and stopped the messages. It wasn’t an ultimatum. I don’t do ultimatums. However, I do respect. Respect for others. Respect for self. 

Most of the bumps have been over unclear communication. We talk it out, sort it out and figure out forward. I won’t accept anything less. 

And so I find myself in the position of being in a budding relationship. In the beginning chapters of a love story. Unlike an author who knows the ending, I don’t. However, I’m fond of choose- your-own-adventure books, so I’ll simply just say yes.