When a man is vulnerable with you listen! I always say "Thank you for sharing that with me." or "Thank you for trusting me with that. " As a form of encouragement and recognizing that it takes courage. But if you REFUSE to open up, I will drop you fast, I don't want that struggle

This is why the illusion of romance is like a major thing for me. Cause we all love romance, we all love gifts and flowers. But romance is performative and actually requires no self reflection or personal accountability to perform which is why it's always some men's go to.

There are plenty of abusers who are experts in romance because they know performing the act of love is actually easier than being in love. If I buy this instead of apologizing I don't actually have to apologize.

HEAR ME OUT, but Tyler Perry actually did a good job displaying this in Madea's Family Reunion when the woman who dated Blair Underwood was under severe abuse but woke up to a harpist, rose petals, and a hot bath ran for her to ease her bruises, that shit is sick.

Romance is a GENRE of storytelling originating in the 17th century European theater. It is actually not intended to serve any real purpose in actual relationship dynamics. It is nice, but its like the cherry on top and doesn't contribute to how the cake is baked.

I'm not saying don't want romance, I'm saying romance shouldn't be your focus. How romance is displayed should absolutely be a conversation between two people in a relationship. I see many of you say if you have to tell someone how to be romantic you don't want them.

Most people aren't mind readers, so expecting that is against your own detriment. It plays into chivalry (another European concept) which is all about maintaining traditional power dynamics aka Patriarchy.