I’d say this one feels lighter.
For sure it does and likely is. Which is why so many say "I was born this way" rather than I can change my future self by doing different now.
I made a mental note for the future, and we move on.
Yeah - this is the thing. Disagreements and even upsets are fine. Learn and move on. But avoidance of conversations "just in case" doesn't make sense, because it becomes tiptoeing around a minefield.
If there’s no willingness, then maybe the connection was never really there to begin with?
Likely. Why try to force a situation that someone doesn't want. It is like chasing a partner who has no interest in you.