Discuss Life

How often do you hear someone say "he never talks to me", "he never tells me....",  or "I wish he opened up", etc.?  Probably, more frequently than you here the opposite, "she never talks about....".  As a man, I can have great conversations, well except when discussing football or rugby, then I am useless. However, I do, or more appropriately, I should say I used to have that age old problem, of withholding my deepest thoughts, considerations, concerns, worries, and emotions.  Not an unfamiliar story, as I am sure there are many who can relate. So why is that, and is it helpful, is it protective, and why, to broadly generalise, is it a trait more frequently adopted by men. Some would say this lack of willingness to share, is a protective attribute that stems back to Neolithic man.  An intrinsic desire, or need to protect the more vulnerable, to spare them the concerns, worries, or fears of the reality, and the dangers of life outside the cave. 

I find it amazing, in fact fascinating how many people look at the fine details of every circumstance.  Art critics will analyse, study, debate, critique the minute details of artworks, sometimes surmising what the artist intended, wanted to portray, how they wanted us to feel etc.  However, for the "uneducated" like myself I just look at the picture, sculpture etc and think... In other words I look at the completed picture and consider what is it and do I like it? Maybe some would call me a Philistine, but to be honest I like to look at the bigger picture.  I know some people who, were they to be given a jigsaw would spend hours examining each piece, probably complaining that they can not see what it is, or what relevance it may have. Certainly, the central pieces they may even go as far as to say, these are useless, all misshapen no straight edges to conform with the other pieces etc.. however, when they loose sight of that one central piece the bigger picture will ne