The Story of the Pistachio: Chapter 2 – The Bearded Man

It has been 3 months now since I wrote my pistachio story, and I am more than pleased with the amount of positive response it producedΒ from so many different types of “Pistachios.” Β I received almost 200 private emails from readers telling me their shell stories, and with many curious to see if there was an progressΒ with my own.

After publishing my story, I knew I could never go back to my old ways without a fight.Β  That I had toΒ indeedΒ listen to my own discovery, and open up my shell.

And so, thatΒ is exactly what I did.

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The Story of the Pistachio:

Chapter 2:Β THE BEARDED MAN

Β Displaying

Not too long after writingΒ The Unattainable Girl, I was ready to put this new personal breakthrough to the test. Β I decided to go back online, and have another look at all of those dozens of profilesΒ I have never given an “open shelled” chance. Right away I came across a profile that I know I have checked out multiple times in the past, but something had always prevented me from actually perusing.

His pictures were okay,Β his profile was okay..everything wasΒ just a bitΒ vanillaΒ whenΒ compared to my usual pickings.Β Even without thatΒ DoubleΒ Dutch ChocolateΒ factor to his profile,Β I knew there had to beΒ somethingΒ there by the amount of times I have contemplated messaging him, so I thought ..

MICHELLE, Β HERE WE GO!!! OPEN UP THAT DAMN SHELL ANDΒ ACTUALLYΒ MESSAGE THIS GUY!

Subsequent to my initial message, we began chattingΒ back and forth for a weeks, each chat getting a bit deeper and deeper building interest.Β  Weeding out that he wasn’t crazy or a douchebag, uncovering many similar interests and confirming there might actually be some potential.

We finally were able to organize a dayΒ to meet within our busyΒ schedules, and very unlike me, I was genuinely looking forward to seeing what this guy was all about.

I was at a bar with girlfriends, awaiting for his arrival when I received a text.Β  He had text to give me a heads up that he now had a beard and to be on the lookout for a “bearded man.”……………… A bearded man???

SHIT!

I HATE BEARDS!!!!!

Right away, I naturally began to freak out due to my huge dislike of beards, and almost grabbed my bill and like a prom dress, quickly took off. With my friends there to remind me how ridiculous I was sounded, I was able to adviseΒ myself, “MichelleΒ DONTΒ do your normal routine,Β DONTΒ pull your normal shit.. keep an open mind,Β it’s just a stupid beard.” Luckily when he walked in, theΒ burly timberman I had just irrationally pictured in my head was notΒ the case, and I could start to refocus on why I wanted to meet him and not on the beard bomb that had just been dropped.

I was very pleased with myΒ decisionΒ to stay, as the night ended up turning out to be really wonderful.Β  For the first time in a long time, I actuallyΒ enjoyedΒ a man’s company for more than 10 minutes and I even had the desire to see him again; practically unheard of in Michelle-land. One amazing timeΒ then led to another amazing time, till it came time for me to leave for a holiday back home. During myΒ two weeks away,Β we spent that time really getting to know each other and developing , what felt like somewhat the start of a relationship,

“The Situation”

Β When I left for Los Angeles, I was put in a bad position where I would not have a place to live upon myΒ return. I had many offers of friends couches to chooseΒ from,Β OR… this guy was kind enough, and well, frankly brave enough, to open up his homeΒ to me for a bit until I found a place.

Now, I know what you are all thinking……

That’s a horrible idea!Β That’s crazy!?

What if this!?! And what if that!?!..yadda yadda yadda yaddda..Trust me I know!!!

Β Β WE BOTH KNEW.

I recognizedΒ this was in no way conventional, but I am in no way a conventional girl. My only real honest concern was that I would get sick of him like I do most guys, and then be stuck at his place wanting to shoot myself in the face as my brilliant plan of escape.

But as part of this “opening up the shell process”, I decided this was a great opportunity to really do it, a big opportunity, maybe the BIGGEST way for me to open my shell. So instead of focusing on all the reasons why I shouldn’t accept his offer, I focusedΒ on the reasons why I should.

And that was that –Β OfferΒ Accepted

During theΒ weeks of living together, everything was wonderful. I felt comfortable there, I felt comfortable with him and with the decision I had made in staying there. My fears of losing interest or getting annoyed were proven to be wasted thoughts, as Β what I actually experienced was theΒ exactΒ opposite.

The more time we spent together, the more I enjoyed his company and the way he made me feel.Β Β There wasΒ absolutely an extra skip in my step those few weeks, a bit ofΒ smilingΒ off intoΒ spaceΒ for no good reason, something I had not experiencedΒ in a very veryΒ veryΒ long time.

Actually acknowledging to myself I liked this guy came a bit difficult at first, as I didn’t want to admit a guy could actually affect me. But there was a defining moment, where IΒ pinpointed exactly when I realized I had lowered my shell and let him in and I don’t think there was any going back after that.

I had witnessed something that made him very happy, that then in return, madeΒ meΒ happy. It was then I finally realized,Β Crap, I actually deeply cared for this guy.

When someone else’s happiness makes you happy, that’s when you knowΒ you’re screwed.

But that very same night I had this amazing epiphany about him, he had one of his own about me.
It wasn’t that he too deeply cared about me, no no no.. he instead realized he no longerΒ saw any potential for the future and it was best that I probably go.

Oh, the irony.

Β In that moment I felt..well, I wasn’t sure exactly what I felt because it’s been so long since I have felt anything like this.Β Pain?Β Sure. Indignant?Β Oh yeah.Β Like an Idiot?Β Huge one.

All I knew was that I was sad, really just….sad. Profoundly sad it had to be over.

Being a genuinely nice guy, he took time to explain to me his situation and make sure I understood what had gone wrong between us.Β Though he he didn’t exactly “kicked me out”, Β he definitely didn’t make it comfortable for me to still stay there. I tried for days to get out of the painful living situation, but with the Sydney storm and bad timing, I was miserably stuck. Stuck there laying alone in his bed while he was out…trying to act like I was okay, while secretly hiding the tears streaming down my face and on to his pillow.

My first attempt at opening my shell ended almost as quickly as it began, and it killed meΒ that there was nothing I could do to fix it.

MyΒ Open Shell Recipe

Β I believe I wasΒ triumphantΒ in doing what I needed to do for myself, even if it resulted in a mini broken heart. I took a lot of time to reflectΒ and thinkΒ what all really contributed to my personal success with opening my shell and realized it was a combination of timing, my mindset, and him.

Β After coming to my pistachio realization,Β I believe I wasΒ finally in the right mindset to give a guy a true chance of getting in. I was able to take off my closed shell goggles andΒ really see a guy for all he was. I forced myself not to pull my old tricks and to just truly be open to everything.

Additionally, I realized this guy was quite a lovely equation.Β  If I could take all the topΒ quality’s from every guy I’ve ever cared about and then added some other magneticΒ qualities I’veΒ never found before.. and put it all into one person.. yeah, that was him in my eyes.Β HeΒ was probably the closest thing I ever found to what it is I am looking and that has made letting all this goΒ thatΒ much more difficult.

So now What?

Regardless of theΒ unsuccessfulΒ relationship, I am able to leave the situation in a very good place.Β  A placeΒ where now,Β I know I can actually truly care for a guy, when I was convinced I was forever unable. Β Old Michelle neverΒ gave this guy a chance, probably for stupid reasons..maybe aΒ beard, or the vanilla profile. ButΒ I was able to get over that stupid closed shell nonsense and fallΒ for that same man who I ended up finding captivating, whoΒ was able to show me how to feel again, while reminding me of all the greatΒ adventuresΒ I have been missing out on by living with aΒ closed shell.

So this now leaves me feeling very excited, motivated and positive about my future with love, as I think it should for everyone. We can learn a lot about ourselves when attempting a relationship, especially when things may not goΒ in ourΒ favor. Personal growth still occurs,Β and that is a huge win on its own.

Β If the first time attempt to open my shell and give a guy a real chance turned out to be this significant, I wonder what all I amΒ nowΒ capable of seeing and feeling in othersΒ moving forward.Β Now that I know I can do this, I feel like the possibilities are endless for me, and that the world really just might be my oyster after all.

But to think…

All ofΒ thisΒ almostΒ neverΒ wasΒ …all because of aΒ stupid beard??

πŸ™‚

Ready to read the next Chapter? Β Boom

Never read the first Chapter? Here you go

Private thoughts? Shoot me an email! micheedom@gmail.com

18 Comments

  1. I love your positivity! Everyone should at life the way you do =)
    Thanks for the read!

  2. Glad you got over the “beard”
    Beards are sweet πŸ˜‰


  3. Great writing style!!

  4. Finally an update and a great one at that!
    Looking forward to Chapter 3

  5. What an awesome outlook. So many times we women look at bad dates/broken relationships and wonder what we did wrong, instead you come away with a learning lesson about yourself that is positive. That’s a perfect way to think. I need to do that!



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