2B

“We’ve talked about starting a frittata stand 

before 
— but now I don’t eat eggs. But the idea 

being that you could do a stand or cart with 
little ramekins and make your own frittatas. 
I think it’s just always been something that 
we enjoy a lot, but I don’t know if it would go 
over well on a hot summer day. It wouldn’t 
require too much overhead though, all you 
need is just a stovetop and an oven really.” 

– Ann Arbor residents BRIAN KONICEK 

and OLIVIA FRANKLIN

Wednesday October 21, 2015 // The Statement

D

ear Emma,

I feel like I’m the 

more emotional one in my cur-
rent relationship, and it feels 
very invalidating. I don’t know 
if I should accomodate my part-
ner’s unemotional tendencies or 
if I should demand validation 
and express my feelings to him 
as I want to do. It’s so frustrat-
ing … I feel like I almost always 
feel this way in relationships, 
but then when I’m with some-
one more emotional than me I 
feel like they are too dependent. 
Thoughts?

Thanks,
Feeling Frustrated

Dear Feeling Frustrated,
I’m glad you acknowledged 

this pattern right away in your 
question — because I’m certain 
you’re not alone in wanting to 
keep the mystery and fun in a 
relationship but also wanting 
to feel emotionally satisfied 
with your partner. However, 
scillating between men who 
can’t help but tell you they love 
you at every possible opportu-
nity and men who have a hard 
time telling you you’re even a 
likable gal probably isn’t going 

to result in you eventually 
finding a partner who exactly 
matches your emotional level. 

I’m afraid that your ques-

tion might be best answered 
by this: you can’t have it both 
ways. And frankly, I think your 
situation calls for a serious 
personal evaluation of what 
exactly it is you are seeking in 
a romantic relationship.

I would definitely advise 

you to talk to your partner if 
you believe him being more in 
touch with his emotions and 
expressing those feelings is 
a requirement for you when 
it comes to relationships. It’s 
worth it to consider there may 
be more going on here: you 
don’t feel emotionally satisfied 
because he’s not quite inter-
ested in you with the same 
intensity you are interested in 
him, you both are having diffi-
culty communicating with one 
another or whatever the other 
issues may be.

However, the other side 

to this coin is that you might 
decide there is no issue at all, 
and that you prefer a more 
independent, 
self-sufficient 

partner over one who feels 
clingy and, well, boring. This 
could be just a phase of inse-

curity. But I do think you need 
to decide what you want before 
you confront him. I almost feel 
like addressing these feelings 
of insecurity will be somewhat 
ineffective, because in your 
case asking him to become 
more emotional might lead to 
you becoming disinterested. 
So as much as I am an advo-
cate for the classic ideology 
that promotes communication 
in relationships, be thoughtful 
about this one. Maybe all you 
need is to tell him how you feel 
and have him reassure you of 
his true feelings for you, but you 
may also just need to remind 
yourself of why you are togeth-
er and bring a heightened sense 
of maturity and confidence to 
the relationship. It’s up to you 
to figure out your priorities in 
a relationship and to really be 
honest with him and yourself 
— for you personally, is this 
feeling of invalidation worth 
the romantic mystery a bit of 
emotional distance brings?

Warm regards,
Emma

Please send your “Dear 

Google” queries to Emma at 
emkerr@michigandaily.com.

Dear Google: Feeling frustrated

B Y E M M A K E R R

FOOTBALL & POLITICS
ON THE 
RECORD

“Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go again.” 

–MICHIGAN PUNTER BLAKE O’NEILL after losing Saturday’s 

game against Michigan State.

***

“I don’t have a Super PAC. I don’t even have a backpack. 
I carry around my stuff loose in my arms like a professor 

between classes.” 

–COMEDIAN LARRY DAVID impersonating presidential 

candidate Bernie Sanders on Saturday Night Live.

LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/DAILY

THOUGHT 
BUBBLE

2C

