I agree with you, Lady D. I wouldn't necessarily call it a "skill." It's a hardening of the heart, a protective mechanism that I, too, have developed to a point. I've forced myself to not let it go too far because when you protect yourself from hurt, you'll also "protecting" yourself from at least some good times and the most, some memorable times, even a long lasting relationship. You just never know.

My oldest son does this. He calls it "cutting his losses." That really hurt me when he said that because I feel as if he might do that to me some day. To me, it means that he doesn't let anyone "in," ya know? To me, it adds up to "no heart." I'd prefer to say: "It's better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all." But then... look who's talking. I've closed my heart to some relationships myself.

<font color=blue>"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt" --Shakespeare</font color=blue>