Snipped for brevity ...
SubtleHush wrote:
These types of topics leave me with this image of the character Deanna Troy, from Star Trek The Next Generation. In that show, she loved chocolate and chocolate ice cream and in some episodes that ice cream experience is looked at closely. She, the character, savoured each bite, swirling it slowly in her mouth, eyes closed and even enjoying the spoon scraping around the bowl.
It was enormously satisfying for her. It was enough in its own way for her. I think this is a great way to look at how others pursue and define what it is that we do in this lifestyle. By that I mean, that some are called to a certain level such as slave. Others, submissive and others still seek/need to bottom.
These can all be organic and natural or just choices and the levels of satisfaction depend entirely on the individual. Honestly, people who create satisfying lives for themselves amaze me. They are those who can settle into and be happy with life on their own terms. I also think those are the fewer but maybe luckier of us.
So, compare and contrast questions like sub or slave, sometimes confuse people. Especially those who find themselves here not organically or out of a soul-searching journey,(Inside-out) but just because it is a fun or interesting choice or Google told them to. (outside-in) Don't get me wrong. They have value in being here too, but their feedback will always be different than those who came to it from the inside-out.
H*
I love how easily you find words to express yourself while allowing some of us to "tailgate" on them. It occurred to me a few days ago how much easier my own kinky path is than the majority of the others here. Being a sensation player / masochist allows me much more flexibility than someone who seeks to either dominate or submit generally has. It's certainly not ideal, BUT during a "dry spell", I *am* able to my semi-satisfy my need for pain and pleasure by flying solo. Of course, comfortable companionship with an appealing partner would be far more satisfying, but I can take the edge off (no pun intended) without another player in the game.
It hasn't escaped me how much easier it's been for me to feel contented in my brand of kink than some others are. My pain and pleasure fantasies literally started on a grade school playground at recess - I had no way of knowing at the time (of course) that I was wildly *different* from the other second graders - just that I preferred my own newly invented "games" over Barbie dolls, jump rope, jacks and marbles. It IS remarkable that those of us who are "outside the box" have found our own ways to come together and my wish is that everyone finds some degree of happiness and pleasure within the scope of their own expectations and needs.