Sometimes, I yell at my Owner.

Sometimes, I yell at my Owner and sometimes I behave in really disrespectful ways.

It's difficult when we have an argument, especially one I start... maintain... and finish mostly on my own steam simply because I am being obstinate, selfish, or frustrated over something (and most especially when it's something really insignificant).

I have a long and glorious history with partners and biological family members of *not* defending myself. Of... 'taking it' in unhealthy ways. This is the reality of my past and of my childhood. And for years I 'took it' and 'took it' and then....

And then I started to grow up, to heal, to find myself - to learn strength and conviction and how to value myself.

And boy I tell you if the pendulum didn't just swing the other way! I spent so long 'taking it' that once I got used to the idea that it was okay to stand up for myself, I got a wee bit carried away. I didn't know how to defend myself "a little bit". If I felt hurt or slighted, I would feel almost instant adrenaline-filled rage and a desire to FIGHT (not physically). This sensation in my body would be consuming and I would find myself getting really really angry over the littlest things... things that in the end just didn't matter.

Learning to identify this reaction and put it in it's place, categorize the types of things I need to 'fight back' on and the types of things that could easily be chalked up to a bad day, a little bit of grumpyness, or otherwise unintentional hurts is easier said than done. Sometimes I succeed... and sometimes I don't.

It's a process. The episodes where I get that worked up over insignificant stuff are fewer and further between but they do still happen.

I am a slave, much loved by my Owner.

I am a little girl, much loved by her Daddy.

I am submissive, filled with a desire to please - to be a good girl.

It's really tough when I don't behave in a way that honors my Owner, that shows my love of my Daddy, that proves my desire to be a good girl.

It's tough because I don't like making bad choices. I don't like when my emotions take over and I let them get the better of me. I especially don't like when I can look back on my behaviour and identify disrespectful tone, behaviour, or meanness.

Respect is a goal I strive for and, sometimes - perhaps even regularly, I fail miserably at it. It's such a beautiful and good goal. And perhaps by even having the goal - it is making it easier to recognize, back down, and be sincerely contrite when I do make mistakes.

Logically, I know that it is normal to struggle. If I didn't struggle with this - would my submission and surrender to my Owner be real, or would it be an act? It was easier, in a way, when my submission was compartmentalized. My ex-Master saw me on the occasional weekend and - for that weekend - I maintained my role as slave, but when we were apart - was I always so consciously aware of being pleasing, of making Him proud, of being respectful? I thought I was, but it isn't the same.

I am with my Owner every single day. This is a blessing and a gift, but it presents different challenges as well. In the realities of marriage, parenting, jobs and the day to day activities involved in running a household, it isn't as easy to be mindful, all of the time.

And yet - it is my responsibility as my Owner's slave to strive to be mindful all of the time, not just on weekends or during phone calls. I don't get to turn it on or off. Treating Her with respect is the expectation and it is up to me to fulfill it. And this is a good and healthy goal.

We had an argument tonight, and it didn't last long. After maybe 15-30 minutes or so of me totally losing my temper (and losing sight of my place and what She means to me), I was right in the middle of insisting that I hadn't said something She'd said I said (I get very literal when I'm upset), when she just stopped me in my tracks with a very direct question - "Was what you said respectful or not?"

I shut up right away and whispered, meekly, "Not." All of the steam and fight in me gone, instantly, just like that as the reality of Her question hit home.

No, I hadn't been respectful... not at all. I'd been selfishly wrapped up in my own feelings, completely disregarding Hers, and holding on to my "point" out of pure stubbornness. The moment it hit home that I had been disrespectful, I was done. I knew at that point that there was no defense for my behaviour, nor any explanation.

Later, She made a comment, and I am not sure if She was joking or serious - perhaps a bit of both:

"Maybe, next time you have a question to ask Me, you should ask me while you are on your knees."

If I could keep that mental image of kneeling (whether or not my circumstances allowed me to phsyically do it) in my consciousness whenever I spoke to Her, a respectful tone and word choice would be much easier! It's certainly something to file away for later. I am a highly visual person, after all.

It is my opinion that - regardless of our dynamic, as my Wife, and my chosen partner, She always deserves my respect.

However, in light of our dynamic and my position in this relationship, I feel it is even more critical that I constantly work on improving my consistency in giving Her the respect She deserves.

And when I do, we both are better off for it.

Being Her slave is more than enough fuel to empower me for personal growth and this underlies everything I do. If I can learn from this experience, like the others, and become a better slave, little girl, and wife for it - isn't that the truest form of service?