This is a guest article from Jason Garner: www.JasonGarner.com
In a class I took once on deepening the connection of romantic relationships, the teacher said, “In over 30 years of working with couples I have found only one thing that women want from their men: presents.”
“Great,” I thought. “A Gucci purse should do the trick.”
Except the teacher had said “presence,” not presents.
Another one of my teachers told me there is always truth in jest. That humorous story, while charming and cute, is also a realistic portrayal of much of my relationship history. I used material presents to compensate for my lack of physical, emotional, and spiritual presence in the relationship.
Why? Because Hallmark told me to, that’s why. More jest, and more truth.
As a man I have been bombarded since birth with images of what it means to be manly.
A knight in shining armor. So I rescued damsels in distress and then wondered why I felt disconnected.
An emotional rock. So I bottled up my feelings and felt misunderstood and unloved.
