I'm Natalie Lou and you're listening to the baggage reclaim sessions.

Hello hello.

How are you doing?

Today I want to talk about intimacy. Hmm, when I said that word, what ran through your mind?

What images popped into your head?

Did you remember something?

Was a particular person a particular experience?

This is giving you a clue about what you associate with

intimacy. Maybe some of those associations are positive, maybe some of those are conflicting, and maybe some of those

remind you of what you're afraid of. I want to talk about intimacy because what becomes increasingly clear to me is that a lot of us are very, very confused about what intimacy actually is.

And to be fair, just like when it comes to boundaries and values and needs

and talking about our

relationship, well guess what?

We did not learn about this

when we were growing up.

I mean, we picked up messages like if you're like me,

you learn about romance from dynasty and Dallas and

Falcon Crest and Prisoner Cell Block H and okay the Fresh Prince of Belair and

Beverly Hills 902-1-0 and Virginia Andrews and Judy Bloom and no not Stephen King

but oh sweet Valley High and a host of

you know messages from books and media but also from observing the relationships around you.

Maybe your parents relationship, your extended family, your peers, there's maybe

...