TIL my ex's 'always leave the cap off the toothpaste' was really about something else

I used to think she was just messy. Then I caught myself getting annoyed at a new roommate for the same thing and realized I was upset about feeling ignored, not the toothpaste. Anyone else find out a small complaint was hiding a bigger problem?

3 comments

3 Comments

brianreed20d ago

Learned this one the hard way after my second marriage. Once I started paying attention, I noticed most of the little fights were really about something deeper like feeling unheard or taken for granted. The trick is to stop and ask yourself what would actually fix the feeling underneath the complaint. Usually it's not a new tube of toothpaste.

troy_price20d agoOG Member

Man @brianreed, sometimes a tube of toothpaste is just a tube of toothpaste though.

max_hernandez2719d ago

My buddy got dumped over leaving dishes in the sink. Turned out she just wanted him to listen.