Sometimes people are too close….
- Moods seem contagious. (“If you’re down I find myself being down too.”)
- Joys, pleasure, pains, ups and downs, resentments and rejections of others, are all “tandem” experiences. (“We do everything together. We even like the same things. We even DON’T like the same people!”)
- Looking out for each other (demonstrating care) is rather a form of keeping watch (checking up). (“I love you so much I can’t let you out of my sight. The truth is if you are out of my sight I get eaten up with feeling out of control.”)
Sometimes people have a healthy distance…
- Moods seldom “jump ship.” (“I monitor my own emotional life. It’s not helpful if we both feel down at the same time.”)
- Joys, pleasure, ups and downs, resentments and rejections of others, are all “individual” experiences. (“Of course we have individual interests. We are vastly different in so many ways. I really like some people he doesn’t really want to spend time with.”)
- Looking out for each other (demonstrating care and connection) is an expression of genuine interest. (“We ‘talk’ all day sometimes. Some days I have no idea where she is or who she’s with. That’s how it is when you are busy.”)
