We asked these kings of creation what they’d ask for if they weren’t shy.
Uncle Remus
My biggest secret wish — one I’d never tell my girlfriend — is for her to keep her stories under two minutes. She starts telling a story from Adam and Eve, and ten minutes later, I’m still waiting for the point.
The Power of Words
Say "I love you" more often. I know she loves me — at least I hope so — but hearing it out loud sometimes would mean the world.
Accepted as I Am
Accept me just as I am. I’ve never had a woman fully satisfied with me — in fact, I’ve never seen a woman satisfied with her man. Women see men as projects to constantly work on, and no matter what I do, it’s never quite enough.
Respect
My wife often talks to me like I’m a dog, even in front of others. I wouldn’t mind if she showed me just a little respect sometimes.
Speak Up
My biggest wish is that if something’s wrong, she tells me instead of playing the "What’s wrong? Nothing." game for hours or days. Why can’t we just talk about what’s bothering her right away? Why the drama instead of a simple conversation?
Secrets
I wish I could share my secrets with my girlfriend, but I can’t because she always broadcasts everything. In an ideal world, she’d be my closest confidante.
Emotional Safety
It’d be great to bare my soul completely in front of my fiancée, but I don’t dare. Once we watched a movie where the male lead cried while sharing a traumatic experience, and she said she was glad I wasn’t such a "softie." Since then, I don’t dare be vulnerable around her. I think she’d leave if she saw me cry.
Gentle Touches
I often envy our cat because my girlfriend always strokes her. I long for her to pet me or play with my hair, but I’m afraid to ask, worried she wouldn’t find it manly. Sometimes I’d gladly be a little softie, but at 195 cm (6’5") and a muscular alpha, I have to keep up my image.
Sweet Solitude
My wife can’t be alone. If she gets home from work before us kids and me, she invites the neighbor over or goes out for coffee with a friend. But I’m practically never alone, and I crave a little solitude more than anything. I don’t want to hang out with friends at a bar — I just want some time alone with my thoughts. I don’t dare tell her because I’m afraid she’d think I don’t want to be with HER, but that’s not true. After 13 years, I still enjoy her company — I just need a little retreat.
Appreciation
It would feel great to get some appreciation from my wife sometimes. Even after 20 years of marriage, I compliment her when she looks nice, has a great hairstyle, or cooks something special. But I feel like she takes everything I do for granted. If the faucet drips, the car jerks, or the TV won’t turn off, she expects me to fix it immediately. I’ve been lifting weights in the garage every evening for three months, and I can see the progress, but she says nothing. I recently got promoted at work, and her only reaction was that I’d have more money for vacations. Sometimes, I just want to feel recognized…
