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Monday, April 14, 2025

Open Relationships

Open relationships can be beautiful, freeing, and fulfilling for everyone involved—or they can spiral into chaos if key ingredients are missing. Like any relationship, open relationships require solid communication, mutual trust, and clearly defined boundaries. Without those things, even the most well-intentioned arrangement can become confusing or hurtful.

Speaking from my own experience, being in an open relationship isn’t about sleeping around or avoiding commitment—it’s about being honest about who you are, what you need, and trusting your partner to do the same. It works for us because we laid out ground rules that make us feel secure and respected. No two open relationships are exactly alike—what works for one couple might not work for another, and that’s okay. 

For me, I’ve found that openness doesn’t mean less love. It means more honesty. It means saying, “Hey, I love you, but I also recognize that sometimes we’re not everything for each other. And that’s okay.” It’s trusting each other enough to allow freedom and still knowing where home is.

But this kind of relationship only works if everyone involved is on the same page. That means sitting down and having some real, possibly awkward, conversations about what is and isn’t okay.

Some boundaries people in open relationships might set:

No dating friends or family

No sneaking around—be upfront about everything

No sleepovers, or only sleepovers with notice

Don't bring other partners to shared spaces

Use protection—always

Emotional connections are okay / not okay (decide what works for you)

Regular check-ins to make sure both partners still feel secure and valued


Everyone’s rules are different. The key is having rules. And sticking to them. Otherwise, you end up with confusion, jealousy, and hurt feelings—which defeats the whole purpose.

I’ll be honest—being in an open relationship hasn’t always been easy for me. There are moments of doubt, of wondering if I’m enough, of needing reassurance. But what keeps me grounded is knowing that I’ve chosen this. We’ve chosen this. And as long as we stay honest and communicate, we can work through the hard parts.

An open relationship isn’t about not loving your partner—it’s about loving them enough to let them be their full self, and trusting that the love you share is strong enough to hold it all together.

It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. But for those of us who choose this path, it can be real, raw, and deeply fulfilling—when done with care.

Until We Speak Again, 
An Enlightened Soul

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Leave a comment below. What's your thoughts on open relationships? Are you in one? Does it work out for you?

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Changing Career Choices

Let's face it, many of us do not work at our dream jobs. Even though it's not the position we wanted, sometimes you find a passion within that job.

Take me, for example...I went to college for massage therapy. I wanted to help people, within the medical realm, but without all the gore and needles. So, I went to college, learned the medical and therapeutic needs for massage, obtained my degree, and started my own mobile massage service! After two successful years, I realized it wasn't my true calling and decided to explore new opportunities. I've cashiered, served (waitress), managed a retail store, cooked, door-to-door sales, and have even been a customer service representative. 

One thing was for sure...I love to work with people. But it wasn't until I worked, as a cook, at a refined bar that I realized I love to bake! I was their only prep person for the restaurant, and I enjoyed it fully. They only had a few baked-from-scratch desserts, but every time I made them and they came out of the oven perfectly, I felt a pure, childlike joy--like the happiness I had when as a kid when I surprised my mom with homemade cookies. That's when I knew I wanted to start my own bakery! 

I talked to my coworkers, friends, family, and even my bosses about it. Everyone was happy for me and saying I should do it. They believed in me. One of my bosses even revealed that she had a dream that I was baking and selling cheesecakes! Unfortunately, they had to sell their business. I worked there until the very last, emotional day. On that day, my bosses asked me to produce a list of start-up items I needed to start my business. They gave me everything on my list plus a few extra things, including prep tables, bowls, measuring cups and spoons, pans, cooling rack, etc.,... for under $300!! Talk about an amazing deal! 

Later, I went to my local health department and picked up the paperwork. It'll take a little time, but I faith that I'll start my bakery this year. I give a lot of my thanks to my previous bosses who believed in me enough to help get me started. I will always be grateful for them.

At the end of the day, follow your dreams and intuition. Passions evolve, and that's okay. Whether your dream job changes, or you find joy in unexpected places, what matters is that you keep moving forward. Believe in yourself and make it happen. If I can do it, starting from scratch, you can too.

Until We Speak Again, 
An Ambitious Soul

If my writing has encouraged you, helped you feel less alone, or simply brightened your day, please consider supporting my work.
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Leave a comment below. Have you thought about changing careers? Have you already done it? Was it worth it? Let's talk!

Saturday, April 12, 2025

The Silent Partner

It really sucked when I couldn’t vent to my partner just because it wasn’t something he was interested in. 

Meanwhile, he felt totally comfortable venting to me about anything and everything. 

I’d sit and listen, support him, be present—but when it was my turn to talk? I’d get cut off. Dismissed. Rushed into silence. 

Like what I was saying didn’t matter. Like I didn’t matter.

So, I held it in. I became the “silent partner.” And let me tell you, it wasn’t healthy.

But what was I supposed to do? 

We were so good together in other ways. We laughed, we loved, we showed up for each other. 

But when it came to communication—my communication—it felt like I was on mute.

And it wasn’t a one-time thing. It happened over and over again. 

The pattern was always the same: I’d get shut down, go quiet, and carry it around until the weight of it broke me. Then there’d be tears. Tension. A blow-up. 

Only then did he realize how deeply it affected me. I tried to tell him calmly, directly, but it went in one ear and out the other. And still, it kept happening.

Every time I bottled up my emotions, a little part of me dimmed. A little part of my spirit got quieter. And it wasn’t because I ran out of words—it was because I stopped believing they’d be heard.

I didn’t want to be the silent partner anymore.

I wanted to feel safe to speak, to vent, to feel. I wanted the same space I gave. The same care. The same attention.

Because communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about listening, too. And I deserved to be heard.

Until We Speak Again,
A Silent Soul

If my writing has encouraged you, helped you feel less alone, or simply brightened your day, please consider supporting my work.
https://buymeacoffee.com/echoesbyk

Leave a comment below. Are you an silent partner? Let's talk about it.

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