tenderness in me grows

I am becoming softer, kinder, more empathy and compassionate. I guess I could say that I think I was always soft, kind, empathic and compassionate for for long stretches, I have felt a need to protectively hide these traits with gruff, blunt demeanor.  I get hurt more, it seems, when abusive type personalities sense my vulnerability. And I tend to be attracted to abusive men, emotionally abusive men.

Free of any abusive relationships these days and growing more and more adept at politely asserting what I need and even what I want, things get smoother and happier.

I am happy.