Sophie and I will attend a book club meeting on Friday evening for He's Just Not That Into You and watch the movie. I received my copy of the book about five years ago from my cousin Nina and, in her inscription, she referred to it as "The Bible" for women. Unfortunately for Nina, she hasn't followed any of the advice that the book gives and now she's "forgiven" her cheating spouse, but that's not really a story for today.
When I got home from dinner with Marchella last night, Sophie was nearly finished with the book. I think that she read it right after I did all those years ago, but she hadn't revisited it since then and I hadn't reread it since more than a year ago when I was unsatisfied with Charlie and our relationship. The problem is that while the book is great for looking back on past relationships and seeing why they didn't work out, it's hard to apply the common sense logic to current situations because we, as women, make excuses for men and want to believe that they like us.
I started reading it last night and hit the chapter on break ups. I think that one of the key themes is "It's called a break up because it's broken," (also the title of another book by Greg Behrendt) and it was like a slap in the face as I applied it to myself and Nathan. My heart broke a little as Behrendt basically told me that if Nathan was that into me, he wouldn't have broken up with me. Sure, he was into me and maybe if we lived near each other he'd be that into me, but we don't. And he's not. Behrendt proceeded to let me know that if I was The One, the 550 miles apart wouldn't matter and we'd still be together, so I guess the proximity thing isn't really an excuse.
While I was Googling the book, I came upon a book outline for Why Men Marry Some Women and Not Others a book that focuses on different ways that some women are statistically more or less likely to marry than others. One thing absolutely stood out to me and made me feel a bit ill; I sent the list to Sophie, so I kind of bet that this same thing stood out to her about me, too.
Women who marry refer to the men who broke up with them as losers. Women who don’t marry often make men who don’t reciprocate their feelings the center of their universe and still speak well of them.
Okay. I wouldn't say that I make a guy the "center of my universe" after unreturned feelings; I would take that to mean being content to wait for the chance that the feelings will be returned one day and not to accept opportunities from different guys. In the month and a half that Nathan and I have been apart, I've almost gone out with one guy and made tentative plans with another for next week. And I've just been generally open. But I do tend to speak well of guys that have hurt me when I think that there's a chance of "someday" with them...and I have to get over that. It doesn't mean that I have to speak poorly of them, but I also don't have to excuse them--and they don't deserve "someday" with me, either. They had their chance already and ended things because they either didn't really want me or they were willing to risk not ever being with me again. And why would I want to waste my time on guy who has already made it clear that I'm not what he wants? Anyway, I lean more towards making excuses for the guys than calling them losers (except in Charlie's case--I call him a loser or worse all the time) and I'm going to stop it. Lila's having a breakthrough.
Despite the sucker punch, I'm glad that I read that chapter when I did. I'd been toying with texting Nathan to remind him that he forgot about my blanket (or couldn't find it) because I really want it back! It was a gift and it has kind of "saved" me a couple times when it was super cold outside, just because I always kept it in my car. Anyway, after reading this I'm not going to bother. I'm not going to contact him in any way and hopefully he won't visit anytime soon...because it's not a good idea for me to see him and I don't want to have to bow out of plans with my friends just because he'll be there. He and I obviously just aren't meant to be, which hopefully means that there's still someone else out there who I am meant to be with and it'll be awesome when that happens.
In the meantime, I'll be here. Dating and blogging away.
Posts
My Worst Date Ever
6 years ago
3 comments:
Here here! What amazing discoveries you found. I am also a victim to making excuses for guys who don't deserve them. And I like to think that I am getting smarter about my views of guys.
Take Brian, for instance. I haven't heard from him since our little exchange of cordial wishes for a happy new year. Personally, I find it frustrating that he is scared of me just b/c I might still have my V-card (Sophie's theory). But instead of wondering why or analyzing every moment of that night and text since, I am planning on moving on!
So Lila, I am right there with you. We may not have found Prince Charming, but that doesn't mean game over. We have much fun and many blogs to look forward to!
Is this blog going to change from simply recounting our dating adventures to recounting our dating adventures as we make a mission out of doing everything we can to be marriageable? I'm okay if it is, but I just want to know.
It probably means that we need to start going out more. That outline said that women who go out about three nights a week are more likely to get married than women who stay in more often or go out 5+ times a week. OOH! MLK weekend is when everyone is going skiing but us! We'll go out and have fun then!!! And write about it!!
I don't necessarily see a distinction between your blog descriptions. I have always thought that the blog was to describe our dating/boy adventures as they hopefully result in a successful and happy marriage.
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