The (Wo)Man in the Mirror - Reveals One's Heart

"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." - Beyond Good and Evil, Friedrich Nietzsche -

Finally, a calm has settled over me. As I reviewed a conversation, I have come to realize that no one needs to be at fault (more importantly, I do not need to fault or blame myself).

[Courtesy of everyone's favorite resource: Wikipedia - Genuine intimacy in human relationships requires dialogue, transparency, vulnerability (Vulnerability is the susceptibility to physical or emotional injury or attack. It also means to have one's guard down, open to censure or criticism; assailable. Vulnerability refers to a person's state of being liable to succumb) and reciprocity.]

The facts that I have to admit to myself with regards to intimacy:

Dialogue - I am very open to honest dialogue. I also enjoy talking about anything really...
Transparency - I've been told I'm the most straightforward, to-the-point person. Ask, and you shall receive. Even if you do not ask, I will not "b-s" you. However, a need to appear strong when one is not necessarily that strong, I have learned is also necessary - I am no "damsel in distress".
Vulnerability - For me, vulnerability comes with trust. I do not trust readily, but when I do, I do so completely.
Reciprocity - I ensure the other person knows that I am appreciative of all that they have done for me and I do my best to be there for the other person whenever it is possible.

***

[Wikipedia AGAIN:
From a centre of self knowledge and self differentiation intimate behaviour joins family, close friends as well as those with whom one is in love. It evolves through reciprocal self-disclosure and candour. Poor skills in developing of intimacy can lead to getting too close too quickly; struggling to find the boundary and to sustain connection; being poorly skilled as a friend, rejecting self-disclosure or even rejecting friendships and those who have them.

Scholars distinguish between different forms of intimacy, principally: emotional intimacy and physical intimacy. Emotional intimacy, particularly in sexual relationships, typically develops after physical bonds have been established. 'Falling in love', however, has both a biochemical dimension, driven through reactions in the body stimulated by sexual attraction (PEA), and a social dimension driven by 'talk' that follows from regular physical closeness and/or sexual union.]