Hi Neil,

Man time sure gets away from me. I think I'm trying to post to too many and even have to go back and review b/c I forget which is which in the stitch.

I hope Forest won't mind me trying to answer his quote on "do what works". I am sure he is taking it from Michelle's DR book about how the mice learn not to go down tunnels that have no cheese at the end and find the ones that do have cheese, whereas we humans seem to repeat the same mistakes over and over and don't lean our lesson as well as the mice do. If what we do is not working (finding cheese at the end of the tunnel) then we need to try something different to see if that works better. Do what works is usually in reference to the stitch and dealing with your W, but I suppose it could be applied to what works for you as well. Do what works for you in GAL, feeling better about yourself, etc. I think we all could apply "do what works" in ever part of our lives, don't you? Why waist our time doing things that do not have positive results?

Does you W still have OM in the picture? If so that puts a different equation on the WAW description. A "typical" WAW that has no OM is usually completely burned out on her bad M and just wants out of it and does not want to even think about getting M again (at least at the time she leaves that M, she doesn't). She has been unhappy for years and just wants to be free of it. However, if there is OM, then of course, that is her focus is to be with him. Usually, there is a difference in how the W behaves in the "leaving" process if there is or isn't OM involved. Aslo, if she is in MLC, that is another equation to be added to the complication of the WAW.

Quote:
"sooooooooooooo, do they ever notice? and then acknowledge that they like them?"


Yes, I believe the WAW notices if she doesn't have her head to far up OM's a$$, but it depends on the individual as to whether they actually say anything. If there is no OM and she has just walked away from the M, she is watching, but probably afraid that the changes won't stick. That is why you must make them for yourself and not just to get her back home and they must be changes for life. If you revert back to the way you were when she finally comes back home......then she will leave again and won't believe anything you try to do the second time around. BTW, I know it is hard to have patient, but never, ever ask her if she has noticed the changes in you. That is a turn-off for women b/c it is like a little boy wanting her to notice his Boy Scout badges and brag on him. Just keep at the changes and she will notice. Depending on her personality if she will say anything or whether she is interested in those changes. It is hard to say just exactly what they will do by clumping all the WAW's into one group, b/c of the differences in the stitch.

Quote:
"my W said to me that "she just doesn't want to be married right now." Is that a typical thought for WAW's? I"m just curious. we've had some good convos as of late...."


Right now, she is burned out and just wants to feel how nice it is to be free and be her own boss and not tied down to anyone. She is thinking about a brand new life for herself. That is my thinking. I went throught that myself, b/c I went from my parents house to my H's house and never was alone and experienced that kind of "freedom". But, my kids were grown and I didn't have to think about all of that.

Quote:
"she saw a book i was reading "building self-confidence for dummies"...and told me that I didn't need worry about self-confidence. I said, well...i think i do. I didn't go into about how she destroyed any self confidence i had..so i dind't think it too bad."


That's b/c she sees you as being a man with a lot of self-confidence. She does not know how she has destroyed it by her actions. But, don't discuss that with her at this time. Don't do anything that looks as though you are trying to make her feel guilty or put pressure on her. It will only backfire on you.

Hope that helps a little.

Sandi





It is not about what you feel should work in your M. It is about doing the work that gets the right results. Do what works!