Breaking up is never an easy thing. But these days, it seems you need a
lawyer to clearly hash out the details of any failed
relationship. After all, there are so many reasons to end a
relationship.
'I can't stand the air you breathe anymore'
'I've fallen in love with someone else and they're better in bed.'
'I've joined a monastery.'
However, when relationships are ending because of emotional confusion, things are never so clear.
'I'm not sure what I want anymore.'
'I need time to figure things out.'
'Maybe we need to take a break.'
Just what exactly is this 'break?' I've never been one to support
the idea. It almost seems like a 'Breakup For Free Card'. You
temporarily get out of the relationship to sort out your emotions with
an almost perfect guarantee that the other person will be waiting for
you when you're done. When you hear 'take a break' over 'break
up' that immediately plants some sort of subconscious hope in the other
person's head that the situation would actually work out. Well,
when you look at how much good it did for Ross and Rachel on 'Friends',
you have to ask yourself, 'is it really such a good idea?'
If your need to go is greater than your need to stay, then by all means
go. Unfortunately, this is the real world and people are human. If you
choose to give up the person you're with someone may actually scoop him
or her up before you have your proverbial 'change of heart. If
you want to go, you just have to take your chances that you may
actually be leaving for good. This is what 'breaking up' is all
about.
One other drawback to these 'murky' relationship closing is that is
seems to put a statue of limitations on either partner's ability to
start dating again. You could be dating six weeks, six months or
six weeks but if you immediately date after 'taking a break' it prompts
a 'Wow, you didn't waste anytime replacing me?'
Isn't it bad enough that we're devoting our time to bad relationships
over and over again? Once we are given and ticket to freedom shouldn't
we make the best of it right away. Some may see it as unhealthy
to go from relationship to relationship. Others may see it as
cathartic. No matter what, it should be left up to the individual
to decide. As long as they are free from their commitment
contract with their former partner, an individual should be free to do
as they wish, without consequence.
If the two broken partners return to each other what happened during
'the break' should have no effect on their reconciliation. It has
in effect already become the past. As long as there are not loose
ends the couple should be doing nothing else but planing for they're
new beginning together. Unlike our sitcom couple Ross and Rachel
who couldn't get past the fact that Ross had an intimate encounter
while, they were on a break. Couples should be mature enough that when
you are broken up that automatically gives each the right to date other
people.
After a breakup people date for different reasons. Some date as a
distraction while some are really emotionally ready to find someone
else again. Some people may choose not to date at all. There is no
right or wrong answer here. It all depends upon the individual. The
most important thing to consider is it's their choice.
Why should anyone put his or her life on hold waiting for an old lover
to return? That day may never happen. It's not your
responsibility to keep the doors open for reconciliation. The
responsibility falls in the hands of the person who actually
left. They are the ones going through the process that may
inevitably draws them back to their partner. They are the
one taking the risks.
If you're going through a breakup, are "on a break" or whatever
ridiculous label you want to put on the same concept, your only
responsibility is to be good to yourself. Your partner may never return
and that is the cold, hard reality of the situation. If you spend your
time away living your life to the fullest and filling in whatever holes
that were left behind with positive experiences then you will win no
matter what.
We should always be on the road to self-improvement. Finding ways to
better yourself from the relationship lessons you've learned is always
a good thing. If your partner returns they'll appreciate you even more
because not only did they not realize what they gave up, they took for
granted your tremendous potential. If your partner doesn't return
you still win. It's just fates way of telling you that the new and
improved you will soon find something even better.