Submission

1. The act of submitting; the act of yielding to power or authority; surrender of the person and power to the control or government of another; obedience; compliance.

2. the condition of having submitted to control by someone or something else

3. the feeling of patient, submissive humbleness

No matter which dictionary one consults, none of them ever address HOW that condition of submission is produced. I suppose it could be forced, which would result in involuntary slavery. However, in this thing that we do, submission is consentual, even if it is unpleasant.

"Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect."

Now, how does THAT fit into the previous definitions? I can say that this more closely approaches what submission means to me. Perhaps, that is why I don't automatically feel the need to be submissive to everyone who appears to be dominant. Yes, I'm a southern female, so I will say "Sir" and "Ma'am" because I was raised to do that to show politeness and respect. However, that doesn't mean I'm being submissive (at least in my mind).

To me, the three key words in the statement above are 1) relationship, 2) love, and 3) respect. When I am in a relationship based on mutual love and respect, the natural way that I show that is by submissiveness. It is what feels right to me and how I am happy in a relationship.

Please notice that does NOT address pain, kinkiness, etc. Although those things are delicious, those in themselves are not what submission is all about. At least, for me!

Melonie