Thank You, Brené

Abstract

Research Article| September 21 2020 Thank You, Brené: Braving Connection and Trusting in the Autoethnographic Process Blake A. Paxton Blake A. Paxton Blake Paxton is an assistant professor of communication at Saint Xavier University. His areas of interest are in interpersonal, family, and health communication. Paxton has presented his work on grief and continuing bonds with the deceased at several conferences, including the National Communication Association, Central States Communication Association, and the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in mental health counseling at Northwestern University. email: paxton@sxu.edu Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Autoethnography (2020) 1 (4): 414–419. https://doi.org/10.1525/joae.2020.1.4.414 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Blake A. Paxton; Thank You, Brené: Braving Connection and Trusting in the Autoethnographic Process. Journal of Autoethnography 21 September 2020; 1 (4): 414–419. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/joae.2020.1.4.414 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentJournal of Autoethnography Search As I stood in his shower, taking way too long to wash my hair, I knew our relationship was over. Earlier in the morning, my anxiety about our possible future together, an anxiety that had been festering over the past few months, finally pushed me over the edge. Engaging in relational talk, while important, can be a very stressful activity among romantic or sexual partners. I knew there was some risk in asking about the status of our situation. “I don’t know what you want!” I stood naked and trembling in front of his bed with a sheet pressed tightly against my stomach. He looked back, startled. “What are you talking about?” “What are we doing here?” I jabbed my index finger at him and then back at my chest. “What does this mean to you?” He sighed. “We... © 2020 by The Regents of the University of California2020 You do not currently have access to this content.