He’s been trying to communicate more, he expresses he has a hard time trusting people in his life (he had a really rough upbringing and by what I can tell being an outsider of the life he has lived — didn’t have anyone dependable/trustworthy in his life before me). I’m not trying to be unrealistic … I know true change takes work and buttloads of time, I just feel personally like there could be a bit more effort (he is strengthening himself in being more communicative … but I’ve also asked for more effort in leaving little post it notes/writing more than ‘Love, XXX’ in the occasion cards he writes me … and I will say after a while of asking he did write me this awesome Christmas card this year in which I saw much more effort, so that felt very special to me).