Gifted Lives: Candid Journeys Through Gender and Romance

Higher Levels of Gifted from The 5 Levels of Gifted Children Grown Up (2023)

Level Three (Highly to Exceptionally Gifted)

Chuck Arnesen

When in his early forties, Chuck (INTJ, Scientist) said:

I’m cisgender, straight, not trapped; it’s how I identify — I mean, I can recognize a handsome man … As far as romantic topics, by choice, they’re nonexistent and, I think, happily so.

Chuck was attracted to several different women during high school and early college, and he described two serious relationships. The first was with a young woman during college, and then another serious relationship later:

She was great, but I just didn’t feel ready for so much intensity. I also was aware of trying to be a gentleman and it seemed most women were not on the same page with that. After I moved to the other coast for work there, I met a woman who seemed to share my values, and we dated, got engaged, and it all fell apart. It was awful. I never want to deal with anything like that again.

Author Note: When any subject communicated difficult or unpleasant experiences, I let them talk and don’t press for more…