Dear Irene,
I agree with your assessment that I will not put up with anybody's nonsense anymore, but
this is because I cannot see myself getting involved in another relationship at any
other time, forever.
"Forever"
is a looong time, J. One day at a time, ok? |
I truly believe that this last one opened my eyes to the
true colors of people and I don't think that I can deal with any more nonsense from
another woman. I will prove that I can survive and thrive better without a partner.
She taught
you about all people...must be a mighty powerful lady. Let's bow and pay
her homage! Also, what's one bad apple got to do with the rest of the fruit? |
I am a better man today than I was before I met Yolanda, but
I refuse to give her any of the credit for any growth in me.
She simply
provided the impetus you chose to react to. |
I did this myself with the capable assistance of you,
Aw gee...but,
that's not true. Had you listened to me (I was hearing your intuition and trying to read
it back to you), you would have dumped her ages ago! |
but we both know that there are many people out there who do
not learn from their mistakes, thus not making it possible to "credit" the
person who may have victimized them. I learned my lesson. Although it may have made me
"overprotective" and "hard", I feel that this is how I have to be.
Yes,
temporarily. Unless you choose otherwise. |
I will not allow another woman in. I will not allow anybody
to hurt me again. I have too many things for which to live. I have a beautiful daughter, a
great family who loves me, and a handful of friends who care deeply about me. I just no
longer feel the need to have an ornament hanging off of my arm to feel complete. I
actually feel this is more a sign of codependence than the sign of a healthy person.
That's how deep this runs inside of me. Yet I am a better, more mature, stronger man for
having gone through this relationship.
You're giving
us female types way too much power! And you are way too busy trying to control your inner
life vs. simply noticing it and not reacting to what you discover inside. |
One thing I did learn from the relationship with Yolanda is
that I am responsible for what happened. She is responsible for her sick behavior, but it
never would have affected me if I didn't allow it to affect me. I am responsible for all
of the hurt I have experienced from this failure. I am responsible for the crying I may
have done, the pains I felt when I wondered why she dumped me when I thought she should
get closer, and for the silly hopes I had that she would come to her senses and want me
back in her life when she actually thought nothing of me. I created a fantasy around this
relationship. The fantasy was that she really cared for me when she clearly did not. That
was all my fault. In this society, where everybody wants to blame others for their
problems, I have at least taken the responsibility for my own. It is all my fault.
Then take
responsibility and stop laying blame...on yourself! Do a status check on your
thinking. Stop viewing this life experience as a "failure," about
"blame," about "fault." Think in terms of "lesson," not
"failure!" "Responsibility" connotes personal power; "Fault"
connotes all that yukky stuff you were told you did "wrong" as a child, when, in
fact, you had no power. Unfortunately, the Yolanda experience was one heck of a lesson:
What happens when you do not like what your intuition is telling you and you ignore
its message, i.e., not take care of yourself!) |
As for the feelings of loneliness, I feel they will subside
once the holidays are past. We are trained to feel that holidays are not for single
people. As with everything in life, we are made to feel like less than a person if we do
not have a person attached to our lives. I am going to try to do this. I am going to try
to live my life alone without having to deal with another person's sick problems to mix
with my own. I am tired of dealing with this.
This was another lonely Christmas but it was the best one
I've had in years because Yolanda wasn't in my life to create tension and to hurt
me. There
was no Yolanda in my life this year and I vow there will not be another Yolanda, or Maria,
or Susan, or Barbara ever again.
J
You
conveniently forget that she cared to the extent that she was capable of caring.
You imply that her lack of caring was somehow a reflection of your unlovability.
Especially given how you blame yourself for messing up and making horrible mistakes all
the time.
Are you also saying that you
will never, ever allow a woman in (my take:) because you are absolutely, positively
certain that you don't have and never will have the skills and self-control to conduct
yourself in a way that commands respect? (Which is essentially my definition of
"taking care of yourself.") Before you object or explain why I am wrong, I
suggest that it may be worth your while to consider the above...but only if you want
to...
Now you may get really mad at
me: If no primary relationship is the outcome you want, which is what you say,
that is exactly what you will get. You get lonely, yet this is OK with you (it
does get better after the Holidays). Since you don't seem to seriously consider
suggestions or points of view I present, I assume that you are content. So, even though we
seriously disagree on how you choose to run your life, it is your life.
I am glad you are OK with where you are, and respect where you are. So, now what? |
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