[Gallagher]

You know the ones I mean. The little shows of affection for those around you that don't mean anything next to how you really feel. How important are they, really?

That game you never played. That movie you never watched. That letter you never wrote. It all seems to add up, doesn't it? When there are so many things to worry about that are so much bigger, it's easy to forget those silly little things. But it seems like those little things are exactly what's always held over your head. Life just sweeps you up. Maybe for a couple days. A couple weeks. Or hell, even a couple years. You're not thinking about sitting down to write a letter to that special someone, you're thinking about how the hell you're going to get through the day without breaking down. Again. And you forget. Time after time, you forget, until they're sick of it. You don't care anymore, they say. You don't try hard enough.

It's hard for me to figure out who's right in it all. I forget, and it gets held over my head from then on... but wasn't it understandable, with everything that's so much bigger that there is to worry about?

Is, or has, anyone else had to deal with something like this?

[DarkForbidden-Love]

*Raises hand* I've had to deal with this, though it normally isn't from my significant other. I don't like initiation conversation, sending that first letter, or anything of that sort and so people read it as purposefull neglect. They say I don't care and that I'm cruel and selfish.

I believe there may be a balence, may be a solution, but I don't know it. All the advice I can give is maybe set a schedual, as in "This week I will write a letter to -insert name here-" things like that. So that if one day your struggling to breath, struggling to survive what life throws at you, you still have six other days to get your life back in order and tell them that you remember.

[Daring Scylla]

Unfortunately i'm usually the one on the receiving end of the "i just forgot"
I think it's a fine line - you can't be really pushy and hang all over the person you think 'doesn't care any more' (i rarely get like that about it) but you feel like they forget you, and when they do, it makes you think that you aren't important to them. Patently wrong, especially that last bit but it's easy to see how people arrive at that conclusion. I try to be open mind about it - maybe a family member died, maybe someone was hurt, maybe a car broke down, maybe this and that - i tend to be over generous with that. Usually when I find out it's nothing, that's when I get really boiled about it and occasionnally I'll end up rowing with the person.
Both people need to strive in the relationship - the one who is 'forgotten' should be more aware that the 'forgetter' has a life away from them. The 'forgetter' should try to remember who've they talked to recently and remind the 'forgotten' that they do exist to said forgetter.
It's an unfortunate situation - i think a lot of people do it. "Just one more thing before I send that email" or "let me do this before I give her a call..." and things turn into minutes into hours into days into months until they're angry at you.
It's not the result of anyone trying to be malicious it's just something that happens. It's not cruelty or selfishness. It's just a thing. A mistake. And it's unfortunate.
hahaaa I guess I haven't been much help but that's my take on the whole bit.