[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Angela

I sure agree with that! With this couple, it looks like their values are very similar, but diverged after they'd been together for a good long while, so it might have been harder to predict.

Since they're already in a partnership, I don't think it's a matter of one partner's values taking precedence. I think it's a matter of: how can we work this out with love, respect, freedom and compassion, so that it works out optimally for both of us? It might mean separating, but wouldn't you rather separate with love, respect, freedom, compassion, and best wishes for each other's future, than with bitterness and a total lack of understanding?

No matter what the issue, when one partner says, in effect, "Look, buddy, this is where I'm at, this is how it is, this is black & white, deal with it," she's not exactly generating love, respect, freedom and compassion in the conversation. That's perfectly okay, but don't you and I want our relationships to be optimal?

Amen, sister! Three posts in a row. I'm on a roll.