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BS: Should I leave or should I go?

15 Nov 02 - 04:30 PM (#827233)
Subject: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: GUEST

Note to those who have a seemingly pathological hatred of guests, get real, and in the meantime, don't bother reading any further. It won't interest you.

For the rest of you, here's the situation. I'm living with a woman who I love dearly, but day to day stuff isn't going well. We argue quite a bit, and at times I feel like just walking away.

In someways that would be easy, but it's not what I want. I think that we both want it to be 'how it used to be' but we seem to spend all our time argueing about why it isn't.

Both of us have our faults (obviously) but right now the problem (to me) is that she won't see that even 1% of the fault is hers. I spent my entire life 'doing wrong' and 'saying sorry'

But I still don't want to lose her.

Thanks for reading


15 Nov 02 - 04:42 PM (#827244)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Jerry Rasmussen

There's a sappy, greeting card saying that "Love is never having to say you're sorry." There's some truth to it.. From experience, I can tell you that if you find yourself saying, I'm sorry" a lot over an extended period of time, prepare to keep saying it for the rest of your life. When one person plays the "I'm sorry," "I was wrong" part and the other person never acknowledges doing anything wrong, it has nothing to do with love. It's all about control.

Jerry


15 Nov 02 - 04:45 PM (#827246)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Clinton Hammond

Flip a coin...

Heads, stay...

Tails, go...

And resign yourself to fate...


15 Nov 02 - 04:50 PM (#827253)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: kendall

Get some professional help.


15 Nov 02 - 05:00 PM (#827263)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Little Hawk

That's a situation that many, if not most of us have experienced. First of all...things will NEVER be "how they used to be". Life moves on and things change. Nothing is like it used to be.

When I have experienced the kind of changes you're speaking of in a romance, it always did eventually lead to parting...although NOT necessarily on bad terms. There's always a degree of hurt, can't pretend there isn't, but you can part without hatred and blame...if you're willing to.

If the other person isn't willing to, then that's another matter altogether.

People make the mistake of thinking they "own" their lover (even if they don't admit it, that's how they feel inside). That's a BIG mistake, and it leads to some nasty situations.

When you've been brought up (as I was) to believe that romance is the absolute centrepiece of life...and the KEY to happiness...then you will probably feel somewhat desperate without it and VERY desperate at the prospect of losing it.

But if mutual giving is not there, it's already been lost.

And it is NOT the centrepiece of life. Healthy self-esteem, and the ability to LOVE in many ways both self and others (and life) is the centrepiece of life.

As long as you feel more unhappy without her than with her, you will probably try to hang on. When you hit the break-even point you will have a rough time knowing what to do. When you pass that point into feeling worse with her than without her, you'll leave...once you get past the mental block of how you think things "should" be...and accept how they actually ARE.

On the other hand, I may be wrong in your case...maybe you two are meant to be together. Maybe you're just going through a rouch spot.

Take a good look at it, and decide for yourself. But being the one who always takes the blame is not healthy, it's not fair, and it cannot work forever.

- LH


15 Nov 02 - 05:02 PM (#827265)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Little Hawk

By the way, your thread title seems to have already answered your question! Was that a slip-up...or was it a sign?

- LH


15 Nov 02 - 05:05 PM (#827269)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: GUEST

If the way the thread is titled is any indication, then perhaps you've already answered your own question. If not, then there's lots of factors to consider, like how much time and effort you've invested into the relationship, and if that time and effort has any significance or bearing on your decision. Is it worth it to stay? Or should you cut your losses and leave? At least this is the way I would be thinking about it.

How badly do you not want to lose her? Badly enough to endure the way things are now for the rest of your life? Badly enough to forgive her for not being able to take some of the blame? Some people would be willing to tough it out this way; it depends on your temperament.

How about counselling? You and your significant other could air your differences in front of an impartial third party if money's not an issue. You and she may be able to come to some understanding with a little guidance from a trained professional.

Bottom line, there are many ways of slicing an orange. Each way will give you a different perspective. Sometimes taking no action at all is a solution. The situation itself will slowly inch toward some sort of equilibrium, and then one day your decision will have already been made for you...for better or worse. Best of luck to you and her.

P.S. If nothing else, be acutely aware of what's going on around you and how you feel about it from moment to moment. Make notes for posterity and future reference. It's precisely this kind of shit from which many good sad songs have been culled. Yours could someday wind up in the Digitrad database. How's that for optimistic spin?


15 Nov 02 - 05:40 PM (#827300)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: mg

if you aren't married and don'thave children, I wouldn't even try. I would cut my losses and go. mg


15 Nov 02 - 05:51 PM (#827311)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Bert

Maybe it's because you're just a sorry SOB. That's the way you appear to us, I shouldn't imagine you're any different at home.


15 Nov 02 - 06:07 PM (#827329)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Ebbie

Both of us have our faults (obviously) but right now the problem (to me) is that she won't see that even 1% of the fault is hers. I spent my entire life 'doing wrong' and 'saying sorry' But I still don't want to lose her."

In my experience, not many times does a relationship shudder, right itself, and take a different path. (Part of the problem, no doubt, is the baggage that was created on the earlier path.) So, in all likelihood, the path you are on now is the path on which you two will remain.

As said above, are you willing to continue on as you are now? Put in the pro column that no relationship will ever be totally satisfying so maybe you perceive this relationship as being of sufficient satisfaction. There's an old country song that says something like 'With you I'm happy half the time, that's better than not being happy at all.'


15 Nov 02 - 06:14 PM (#827335)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Little Hawk

Then there's that other song "How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?". Some relationships would work a whole lot better if people didn't live together fulltime.

- LH


15 Nov 02 - 06:17 PM (#827338)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Troll

For once, I agree with Kendall.

troll


15 Nov 02 - 06:24 PM (#827346)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Mudlark

Lots of advice, as good as I've got to give. But if you aren't going to use this thread title for a song....I will!


15 Nov 02 - 06:33 PM (#827357)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: GUEST

Bert, two words; fuck off


15 Nov 02 - 06:35 PM (#827359)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Thomas the Rhymer

I also agree with Kendall... Its very important that the councilor be an impartial witness... Complete nutrality is a must for authentic results. ttr


15 Nov 02 - 06:51 PM (#827373)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: GUEST,John Gray in Oz

Don't leave. Force the other party to leave by bringing home a new girlfriend. Then say to the original, 'Sorrryyy - but you've got to leave.'

JG/FME


15 Nov 02 - 07:03 PM (#827388)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Thomas the Rhymer

...and when she gets pissed off, get a restraining order, and throw her stuff into the street. Then, spread lies about her all over town to cover up what an asshole you really are!


15 Nov 02 - 07:04 PM (#827389)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Liz the Squeak

Talk to each other. Keep talking. There is very little that can't be resolved, either way, by talking. The more you keep to yourself the sharper the hurt feels. The more you slag him/her off to others the more convinced you become of your own infalibilty.

Be totally, utterly and COMPLETELY honest with yourself, be realistic and understanding with others.

LTS


15 Nov 02 - 07:08 PM (#827395)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: GUEST

Thanks Liz, wise advice.

We've a lot more talking to do, but our compasses (sp?) are pointing in roughly the same direction


15 Nov 02 - 07:33 PM (#827425)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Amos

If you're apologizing so that she will just shut up, it ain't gonna work, buddy.

If you're not talking enough, or honestly enough, so that you both arrive at some new understanding , then you are bound for entropy and the dissipation that it brings about in relationships.

Live and real communication is the sole safeguard you have against that. Strive to understand. Then strive in turn to be understood.

A


15 Nov 02 - 08:32 PM (#827486)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Jerry Rasmussen

Good Times/Sad Song... by Jerry Rasmussen


"What can you do when the good times are gone?
Sit by the window and wait for the dawn
And you can't remember how things went so wrong, anymore
What does it matter, how much you tried
Or how many times you kept it inside
There's no more to say, and nothing to hide, anymore

   CHORUS: Nobody wants to hear a sad song
            We've all got troubles of our own
            Of our own

No use pretending this isn't the end
She tried to tell you, but you wouldn't bend
Now something's broken, that you'll never mend anymore
What will you say when they ask where she's gone?
How will you say, it was you that was wrong?   
And how will you face it when you can't go on, anymore?

   CHORUS:

That's what happens when you take all the blame on to yourself.

Don' do it..

Jerry


15 Nov 02 - 11:23 PM (#827594)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: kendall

Whenever you get into a difficult situation with another person, always ask yourself. "What is MY role in this"?


16 Nov 02 - 12:49 AM (#827613)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Bert

Hee, hee. It worked.


16 Nov 02 - 01:04 AM (#827617)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: EBarnacle1

What are you getting out of this relationship? Do you enjoy abuse? Is there a need to suffer?

When I was married, not a day went by that my wife did not find something that offended her. I stayed together with her for the sake of our son. The best day of the relationship was when I was served with a dose of reality in the form of divorce papers. She, my son and I are all happier now.

It's a lot cheaper to split before there are children involved.   If you are not married, if the apartment is in her name, if she does not have a gun to your head, leave and find a healthier relationship.

In another concept, I have said that there is no virtue in poverty, only misery. The same applies here.


16 Nov 02 - 01:45 AM (#827632)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Bee-dubya-ell

You can't change somebody else, but sometimes if you get out of the way and give them room to do it they'll change themselves. My wife and I broke up three times before we decided we had beaten ourselves into submission. On the night of our final reconciliation I told her that we were either going to get married or never see each other again. We've been married for 14 years now.

Bruce


16 Nov 02 - 01:55 AM (#827636)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Bee-dubya-ell

BTW when I read the title of this thread I automatically heard Randy Travis' voice and a Telecaster equipped with a B-bender. There's a genuine kuntry song in there for sure. I ain't gonna write it though. Wrote enough of that kinda shit after getting dumped by my first wife.

Still Bruce, just like I was in the last post.


16 Nov 02 - 02:10 AM (#827637)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: Banjer

What Bert said!!! Isn't this the same GUEST that always complains about too many BS threads?


16 Nov 02 - 11:24 AM (#827725)
Subject: RE: BS: Should I leave or should I go?
From: GUEST

No