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3 year old relationship dying slowly

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Anonymous

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First off, I want to thank all the members of this forum who take out time to help us guys in need. I had come over here for some help sometime during the course of our relationship and due to your advice I could sort out the issues I was having then.

We started dating around 3 years ago. Strange thing is, she had always told me from the beginning that she's not marriage material and she doesn't ever want to settle down with one person.
I was fine with it too, expecting it to not last more than a couple of months at max. Except that it didn't fizzle out. Turned out that we really really enjoyed each others' company and had fallen in love with each other. Around the time that our relationship crossed the 2 year stage, I began hoping for more: I was madly in love with this beautiful, kind, amazing woman and what's more, we had even started a firm together. She was very much in love with me, too (she still is).
Although we didn't exactly live together, there was a time when she stayed at my place for over 5 months while she was changing apartments. And we've been in the same city so we were pretty much over all the time. Oh, and, we're both around 30 now.

All throughout, though, she maintained that she never wanted to marry me (except for that one time when she fantasized about our marriage). I would have been fine with it too (I just want to live with this girl, marriage or not), had it not been for the fact that now she saw herself eventually settling down with someone, just not me. :O
I still remember the conversation where she dropped this on me. Being a mature couple comfortable enough with each other to talk things out, I tried to find out the reason. But the only thing I could gather was that apparently (even after all these years) I was not her 'type' and that she didn't see herself living with me. No other solid reason. Needless to say, my heart was shattered all over the floor.

I tried to stay aloof though, and told her that if she wanted to end it then be it. I told her we would continue working together in spite of it and not give up on our career dreams. This was 4 months ago. However due to the complication of being partners at work now, we end up seeing each other everyday and talking to each other just as much. In other words nothing has changed except that we don't have sex. She is very clearly attached to me, values my opinion on everything including her personal life, and still shows signs of being in love with me (impulsive kisses, hugs, random acts etc). She is NOT seeing anyone else on the side either and there is NO OTHER GUY IN THE PICTURE. Can't stress this point enough; being an open couple we have done a lot of things together and would have no qualms in talking about a third person if one existed.

We have spoken about our relationship status since then and apparently yes, we are still dating each other. She is putting off taking the 'final decision' till later, although she still feels that it won't work out with me. I said I won't stop her whatever decision she takes.

I'm totally lost here. Being the more experienced person relationship-wise, I know for a fact that we can make it work. We are THAT good with each other. We hardly even fight, and even if we do it's far apart and over trivial issues.
I know for a fact that I will be happy with her all my life, and she too will be happy with me, IF ONLY SHE COULD get the thought out of her head that "I'm not right for her".

Honestly I'm stumped. I'm ready to do anything to stop the impending break-up and hopefully get settled with her. Please help.
 

Drck

Cro-Magnon Man
Cro-Magnon Man
Joined
Feb 14, 2013
Messages
1,488
IMO she is gone.

She told you couple of times that you are not her type, she didn't see herself living with you, she told you she never wants to marry you... She feels it won't work out with you... She is also 'letting it die' slowly while you want to continue, she is doing it slowly so you don't feel that much pain... And you no longer have sex, that's a big change... All these are red flags, she is giving you lots of warning signs...

A good way to see it is that girls have a long list of things in their heads they are looking for in a guy. They go through the list, if a guy meets enough points she will sleep with him, and if not, well, he's gone. You meet her list somewhere in half - good enough to stay with you for some while, but not enough for whole life. Say she's looking for 70-75 out of 100, you are somewhere around 60. Nobody knows the list, only her. She won't tell you what's on the list, but most likely she is looking for more dominant and leading guy, a guy who is LESS agreable with her

She is looking for another guy who will meet those 70+, and there is a chance if she doesn't meet him she will settle down with you. Which is no good, because she could find that guy 4-5 years from now, and you will be gone anyway... You will be only hurt more...

Another thing, she has a power in the relationship. She is more dominant, she makes the choices/decisions. That is no good either. She tells you she will walk away from you and you agree with it...

"She is NOT seeing anyone else on the side either and there is NO OTHER GUY IN THE PICTURE"
>>>> There is a guy in the picture, he is in her head, and she is looking for him while being with you... That's no good...

"I'm ready to do anything to stop the impending break-up and hopefully get settled with her"
>>>> You have to let her go, she is already half gone. As a matter of fact, the real issue is that she was never fully there...

-------------

I feel for you bro, it is tough. Better to cut it off now than 5 years later when you have kids, have to pay alimony and child support,... You don't want girl that is settling down with you, that is no good... You won't change her, it seems that she's already made her mind and anything you do to keep it 'alive' will only make you chase her, while keeping false hope...

Here is a quick list of 'good' things to look for in a long term relationship:
* She wants to be with you (duh), and she tells you that in some way... She is talking about future in some way: about family, kids, living together, ...
* She does things for you without you asking for it. She is a giver, not a taker
* You are the one who makes the major decisions, and she respects that (she complies with your decisions)
* She introduces you to her close friends and family
* You do have sex, as much as you want
* You are more leading, more dominant, and have higher self esteem (e.g. she should know that you want to work on the relationship but at the same time you are willing to walk away from her any time)
 
you miss 100% of the shots you don't take

Carpe-DM

Space Monkey
space monkey
Joined
Nov 4, 2013
Messages
16
A relationship doesn't have to last until one of you dies to be successful. When you quit a job, was that unsuccessful or a waste of time? Have lots of relationships, even casual ones. Don't hide it. You'll either move on with someone else, or you'll stoke her jealousy fire and then you have competition for you. Win win; just let her know you don't NEED her this way and she'll be more attracted to you
 
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