Dear cassie Eve:

From your account he seems to be a decent, honest man- most important requirements in a potential long-term/ life partner. He seems to be aware of his mind and heart and willing to explore and progress into a healthy, loving relationship.

His current work schedule fully explains his emotional-downsizing, or emotional minimizing so to survive such a trying schedule.

Five months is not a long time in one’s forties, I think. I would definitely give this relationship more time. I will not pressure him in any way to say “I love you”. I would dampen my own excitement so to fit it to reality (patience requires endurance, not excitement), and I would re-evaluate the relationship later, when his schedule allows for a relationship, and giving his counseling time.

anita