Dear T,
Is it that I wish you would say more? Or is it that I have trouble believing some of the things you *did* say? Maybe a mix of both?

I want to mean something to you--not just "I value you as a client", but "I value you." But I really don't think I can say that out loud. It makes me feel shame to even think it. And I really don't want you reiterating the nature of the relationship. I can certainly think of people I knew solely professionally (that I wouldn't consider friends) that I valued.

But I wonder if this is something important to talk about, not in terms of you specifically, but about the effect I want to have on others? Do I need others to value me that way in order for me to value myself, say? And how can I shift that script?

Love,
LT