All’s Fair in Love and Exes
11 Aug 2010 2 Comments
in Relationships Tags: dating, life, love, my life, personal, relationships
It may be that my iPod hit too many Alanis Morrisette songs the other day, or maybe it was one of those mushy quotes that I read on Twitter. Either way, I thought it would be theraputic to let go of some old ex-boyfriend baggage and look for the lessons I’ve learned from them. In my journey of making my life right, I’ve continually reaffirmed my happiness by counting my blessings. So, I decided the ill wills that may have laid dormant in the back of my mind needed to be cleaned out. The more I pondered it, the more I realized each one held some valuable lessons whether it was a good or bad relationship. In order to protect the innocent, and guilty, I’ll simply number them in chronological order with just a first initial. No names will be shared…lucky for them.
#1-J: Dating should be fun
Being friends after a break up is possible
Never “re-date” after a break up
#2-S: Don’t stay in a relationship just to have a relationship
Know when you are done and end it
Being respectful of someone’s family counts
#3-J: Listen to your instincts
Consider your friends’ advice
Friends who care will show it when it counts
#4-J: Communication is key
Anger is not worth holding on to
Two wrongs don’t make a right
Be yourself
#5-M: Know who you are
Stand up for yourself
An argument is okay, a fight is not
Music can be a therapist
Spirituality can be healing
You deserve better than you think
#6-R: Some people deserve better than you
Don’t be suspicious of being treated well
Learn to recognize when someone genuinely cares
Trust is precious
Never say never (see boyfriend #1)
#7-M: Soulmates exist
Timing is everything
Fight for what you want
Broken hearts will eventually mend (even if it takes years)
#8-T: Fun doesn’t equal serious relationship
Figure out what you want from the other person and TELL THEM
Never return to bad habits
#9-M: Trust is necessary
Even though you might grow up, it doesn’t mean they will
Have faith in yourself and your strength
Children change everything
No one ever said dating was easy. I never assumed it. I just never thought that the day I got married would be the day I could shake off all those old feelings and pack them away. We are approaching our fifth anniversary in October and I’m glad that I have finally realized that the lessons I have learned from the past have guided me into a truly happy marriage. I wouldn’t trade any of the heartache I experienced because it made me who I am today.
Give Your Guy a Break
29 May 2010 9 Comments
in Laughter, Relationships Tags: humor, life, relationships
One night, long ago, my boyfriend and I were getting ready to go out. I spent quite a bit of time picking out the right outfit. Took my time putting on the perfect make-up to compliment the clothes. Then I worked on straightening my hair which takes at least 30 minutes. This was a long awaited date and I wanted to get my look just right.
Seeing as he only takes five minutes to get ready to go anywhere, he was becoming impatient with me. He paced up and down the stairs.
“How much longer?” he would ask.
“Just a few more minutes,” I would reply.
We did this several times until he came up the stairs and to the doorway to say he had been ready to go and we were going to be late.
“Who would you like to go out with tonight?” I snapped. “The pretty girlfriend, or the ugly one?”
As he turned, I heard him mutter with exasperation, “Well, the ugly one is nicer.”
Metaphorically Speaking…
09 Mar 2010 Leave a Comment
in Relationships Tags: life, love, personal, reflections, relationships
A long time ago, I suffered a deep wound. I had received cuts like it before, but this one went a lot deeper than the others. And even though I knew it hurt like no other, I simply slapped a Band-Aid on it, like I always had, and moved on. Every now and then, I would feel the ache from it and see that it still had not healed. All the others had healed just fine. I even forgot about most of them. But, this one, it still lingered, never able to close on its own.
So, recently, I came to my senses. I realized that if I just rip that Band-Aid off, I could clean it up, sort out the damage and stitch it up properly in order to get some real healing. Sure, it might leave a scar, but it would finally be healed.
It’s a funny thing, ripping off that Band-Aid. You stare at it. You wonder what is the best angle you can grip it at to tear it off quickly. You might even contemplate whether it is worth it at all to rip it off, or just let the adhesive wear down and it will eventually come off itself. However, this Band-Aid was never going to fall off on its own. It was holding on for dear life. Every day it would convince itself that it was doing its job.
I gave in. I ripped it off. What a relief! I have to say, it was a very liberating feeling. I thought that keeping that bandage on was what was keeping me going. I agonized for days anticipating the pain of getting rid of it. I even thought that tearing it off was going to be the beginning of an ordeal of stinging antiseptic and piercing stitching. It turns out, the first step was the final step. I already feel like I am healing. And no matter what the cost of the medical treatment in the end, I think that I have already paid the price.
To be continued? Maybe…

