Defining terms for purpose of clarity: lover: A close friend or companion that I have physical relations with in some manner.
Soul mate: A person that I am very close to, but I do not have sexual physical relations with this person in any form.
I use these terms broadly, I use them for Clarity and the benefit of others, but fuck labels... I believe we can have multiple lovers and soul mates in this life. The only difference is the dynamic of the relationship. So, for example, my brother-in-law, Is someone I consider to be my soul mate but would not touch him with a 10-foot pole in that manner. One of my best girlfriends, I consider her as a lover because I can fuck her and it not be complicated. I said I can, doesn't mean that I do. If that something she would need at the time, I would gladly give it to her and she knows it. Because that's the kind of friend I am.
Do you get it? Just so we're clear...
Some don't understand that my husband is my home and my lovers are my reminders. I love my roles as a mother and wife. They are most important to me because that's a huge part of my life. I will never give them up. When I took on these roles, I unknowingly gave up parts of myself and got lost in them. I was trying to get it right, perfect... I wanted to exceed the societal expectations of a wife and a mom. Naturally, I'm very passionate, ambitious, Determined, and Ballsy to a fault. Being high reaching caused me to lose myself. It was one of the most painful things I ever experienced, aside from losing my mother. To look myself in the mirror and not recognize me...feeling the lowest of low... and then coming to this realization was is beyond bewildering. How did I get here???
To be quite honest, my husband was and is there for support, but I'm also not blind to his self-work that he has to do. It's not his job to solve these things for me. Just like everyone else, this isn't unique to us...
So when hubs are too busy to remind me of who I am, and I don't have the strength to remind myself, my lovers remind me. My lovers don't replace my husband, but rather they step in where he can't. By supporting me emotionally they, in turn, support my husband. He worries a little less, in some ways.* that part is completely a theory, we're still learning and still exploring; very slowly.* lol
My lovers have reminded me that I am beautiful and smart. To show I'm more than just a mom or just a wife. I am someone special, which needs to be desired. They make me feel Comfortable to love them at my own pace and in my own time. The things I learned from them, like how to more communicate clearly, transfers over to my marriage. Intimacy is one of the hardest areas but they're very patient and understanding. I use the lessons that they teach me. And I support them in whatever endeavor they choose. I feel as though my lovers make me better by holding me accountable just as my husband does.