Thank you so much WCS! I used the extremely valuable handouts you provided and used only the most positive language when telling my guy the other night. Our phone conversation started with our normal dialogue about how our day went and then I started talking about what it means to be in a relationship with full trust, transparency and being vulnerable. We don't live in the same state and honestly, i couldn't wait any longer to have this conversation.
I outright just asked him if he's ever had a cold sore and he recalled that me might have had them in high school or college. I then confided that I get a cold sore maybe once a year and that there is potential to pass this along but also was a little relieved to hear that he has possibly had them in the past. I gave him a second to digest what I had said and then proceeded to tell him that I get an occasional cold sore on my back side and I talked about this being the same virus that causes the cold sores on my lip.
He quickly was inquisitive about possible transmission and i went through the handout and the statistics. I also mentioned that i take a daily antiviral and the protective measures we would need to take to prevent passing along this darn skin condition.
It's just that: an irritating skin condition in a not so favorable place. I know in using the proper words now that it can change the stigma as to what this condition really is! Whether above or below the waist, it's all the same darn H virus!
After fully disclosing to him about my condition, his response was "Is that all you got?"
He then said, I Love you unconditionally and that I'd have to do a lot better than that.
At that point I started to cry and let him know that this was the one thing that was preventing me from being truly honest and that being vulnerable isn't my strongest trait.
I realized at this point that this person undeniably loves me exactly for who i am and not what i have. He said as we get older we are going to experience things with our bodies that are inevitable and it's just part of the process. We all have things about ourselves that we struggle with accepting but when we do, it's a game changer.
I was finally able to say I Love you to him for the very first time. I was finally free to express what I had been wanting to say because my integrity was now aligned with my heart.
Our relationship at that very moment went to the next level and we both said this was our best conversation yet. I wouldn't have believed that an hour before as I was about to throw up and praying for the right words to stay.
We are going to navigate this journey together and truly accept one another exactly the way we are. We agreed to focus on being grateful for everything we do have which far surpasses this pesky skin condition.
Thank you for providing this Site to all of us, It was the exact set of tools and support I needed to take a leap of faith.
WCS, you are truly a blessing and Thank you for your encouragement and providing the right words I so needed to hear.