Openly undefined

The Heart & Soul of Non-Monogamy

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Ethical non-monogamy takes on many “forms”… polyamory, swinging, open marriage and everything in between. The thing about going non-traditional is that it gives you liberty to create what you want. Well, as long as everyone is aware and everyone is consenting. My husband and I classify as swingers, or in “the lifestyle.” We’ve met swingers who do swing, but don’t ‘identify’ with that term. We’ve met polyamorous couples who swing, and those who don’t. Actually, I have found that most open-relationship folks don’t really like to define themselves…it’s that whole non-traditional thing. The one thing we all have in common is being “open” to one degree or another. Open can be ridiculous amounts of fun. Open can be obscene amounts of sexiness. Open can also be complex. This is a blog about all of it.

If you find yourself unfamiliar with some of the terminology (common at first), here’s a Glossary of Terms to help.

Morning-After Shame: Why It Hits So Hard (and How to Talk Back)
Sexuality and Shame Lauren Hayes Sexuality and Shame Lauren Hayes

Morning-After Shame: Why It Hits So Hard (and How to Talk Back)

On a recent podcast, one of the topics that (unsurprisingly) came up was the shame (or guilt) that can sneak in after a big, fun weekend. You know the one: everything felt amazing in the moment - connected, sexy, alive - and then, the next day (or maybe two or three days later), something shifts. That pit in your stomach, that little voice that whispers, “Should I have done that?” Or even, “WHO was that?

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