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Trying to save my long term relationship

Smiling_Stray

Tool-Bearing Hominid
Tool-Bearing Hominid
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Messages
187
Lately I made a post about my life hitting rock bottom (hence the tread name) and how I might be able to get back on my feet. The help I received there was wonderful! However it seems everyone went riding off afterward, leaving me here with an important unanswered question. As I write this, my relationship is circling the drain slowly. She wants to give us a chance to come back from this but every time I try to figure out what the problem is, I seem to come up short. I gave all the details in my previous post and we're down to the last 3 days of the time she's given me to resolve this before she comes over one last time for a four day stay (Then never really coming back).

Rather than direct anyone to another thread, I figure I might as well just drop the details here so that the other problems I resolved don't take away from this.

On the 15th, I told my best friend that I wouldn't be going to the beach with him. He told me to just take care of my mental health, it's fine. So I stayed home with my Girlfriend of 9 months now. We've spend all of those 9 months together in some way, through video chat, phone calls, and of course a lot of in person time. Neither of us have been so close to anyone in our lives. Sometimes I look at her and I'm still stunned. She does the same, even now. When I found her, she was borderline suicidal (she's very happy with life right now and has gotten help). I was riding a high off of everything, my writing was picking up and my friends where a lot of fun to hang out with still. But she was gorgeous, Impressively smart (like she's actually going to Georgetown to be a lawyer), and very charming in the sense that I knew she was very experience and going to be a lot of fun. I found myself just wanting to spend more time with her, I found we actually had quite a few things in common and things we didn't complimented each other nicely. She felt the same. I could on for days about all the shit we've done and been through but that's not the point of this post.

The point is, about a month and a half ago I dropped her off at her school 3 hours away from me and we wouldn't be able to see each other for a week more than a month and a half. I didn't want this because we had both seen this coming but I knew that we might not make it that long apart. I don't think many relationships would. But there was nothing we could do. She has foreign parents and she understandable wants them in her life so she had to go and work with them for a while for some of the summer until school started up again.

One night, she told me she hasn't felt a spark between us since then. I can see where she's coming from. For a while I got sucked into video games, I let go of myself. I pretty much lost all my social skills, I forgot how to approach, I forgot how to have conversations that weren't so bland with anyone, really. I even noticed my voice slipping into a bad habit of talking with a nasally tone. And as a consequence, she started having less and less attraction to me. We can't really sleep together from so far apart, and I don't really have the fundamentals that made me... me, I'm not able to have the conversations she's nostalgic for between us. Where we could stay up until 5 in the morning talking about the dumbest shit. Or at least I hadn't been, I started looking into fundamentals while reading everything I can in search of saving this and it seems like I either never really lost it or like I was just able to hop back on with my fundamentals really easily.

Anyway, back to that night. She tried to break up with me. She said she didn't want to and that it might just be that we haven't hung out in person for so long but that she just didn't feel it anymore. I asked her what she thinks the problem is and she said she's worried about the long term. She's worried we won't be able to connect and have good conversations. She wants to be married to someone who makes her laugh and I haven't been able to do that lately. She also said that she's worried I don't have anything I'm working towards (as in I won't be able to provide for her), as I haven't gone to college yet (I flunked out before and gave up) and have had money problems a few times during our relationship in way that has put a strain on both of us.

We both fell into a sense of heartbreak, she cried but I couldn't I hadn't eaten anything yet and felt like if I cried as hard as I felt I would've thrown up. I just disconnected myself from reality and went somewhere I can't even remember right now. I think I went back to all of our greatest hits. The good times, you know? After a while she had a panic attack and snapped me back into the present before leaving the video chat abruptly. I looked around me and saw nothing left of my life but pain and misery. I wanted to die so bad but just didn't have it in me to do anything.

Flashback to when I dropped her off for college, I told her i didn't think we would be able to make it through these months and that I thought she was going to break up with me during our time apart. We hugged and she promised she wouldn't. It was quiet three hour drive home but when I got back she was already in the zoom meeting waiting as if nothing was wrong. I later found out she only felt like there wasn't a spark when I wasn't around for a while.

So that night, I never closed the meeting and sure enough she came back before it closed. She texted me that this was stupid and that we're not breaking up like this. Kept texting me to let her in the meeting. I let her in. She said that she just feels like she's just not in a good place right now (her parents have this effect on her) and that she was going to keep her promise and wait until after we've had some time together in person (as in a few days living together) before she makes any big decisions. We talked further about what was bothering her and agreed it was time for me to go back to college rather than move into an apartment. This would reassure her about my stability and I would be able to work the job I always wanted (I always planned on college but I just wanted to move out first, guess I just needed a reality check).

We wouldn't be able to see each other in person again for at least a week, then after that another week before we can really spend more than two days together. I was very worried that we won't make it through those next few days. Although now it just feels like we're on life support right now and she's waiting to pull the plug.

Recently girlfriend has finally made her way back to college and away from her misery inducing parents. She would have three roommates (all women obviously), however they weren't there yet. Her parents weren't there anymore either. So she called me over and I came. There was some drama with finding parking in the bad part of the city but it all worked out and we spent the night together as well as most of the next day. Having finally been able to be sexually intimate, we had no hesitation at all there. It was nice long night :p she seemed to enjoy it very much.

We had breakfast and went out, did some stuff in the city together, had a bite to eat. Then I had to go home.

I decided to check in with her about the relationship and see how she was feeling as this felt like a final goodbye rather than an "I'll see you later" sort of thing. What I heard was hard to swallow... (this is something I like about her, she's very analytical about everything and is brutally honest with me. She's found this website too, and as someone who swings both ways loves it.)

She said she still wasn't sure. She knows it would be easier to be with me but she doesn't see a happy future in the relationship anymore, saying that I don't seem stable enough for her (more on this in a minute) and that she just doesn't feel that spark anymore (more on this too in a minute). She just doesn't want to make a choice she's going to regret. She feels like she'll regret both options but doesn't want to waste too much time.

She went on about the problems she sees, and I made sure to keep an eye out for things to take away from this. So this is what I've got:
She doesn't feel like I'm stable in the sense of money and education. (and one other gut-wrenching thing I'll get to shortly)

Money: I've been scraping by paycheck to paycheck lately and it's stressed the shit out of her as an ambitious career oriented women who works full summers and has thousands in her bank account (although she also understands she doesn't have to make the same payments as me thanks to her big bucks parents who still wrongly think they're poor XD ).

Although there's a better paying job I can walk to and save money for gas on at a bank literally right in front of my house that pays better than either of us have ever been paid (about $20 an hour with training). I know I can get that job and made it clear to her I'm going to. (in fact, she's well aware of everything I've written here. I made sure to talk to her about all this)

Education: She doesn't see me going to college for something I want that'll be able to provide for us and actually succeeding. I was going to college online when we met for a bachelors in journalism so I could actually get my foot in the door as a writer, professionally. I ended up flunking out and destroying my GPA since I rarely actually attended class or did any work.

I'm currently planning on re-enrolling online to get my GPA back up this winter (thus allowing me to get into my preferred college in the summer) after I finish paying off my car and just focusing on school unlike how I did last time when I tried to half ass work and school at the same time.
"Never half-ass two things, whole-ass one thing." -Ron Swanson
(Additionally my preferred college just so happens to coincidentally to be much closer to her school than where I am now) Now, I'm not sure if writing would be something that could actually provide but I'd willing to minor in something else too just in case.

But this last problem was the biggest gut punch of them all:

She doesn't find me attractive in a sense of charm or game like how I was when we first met and it shows in conversation. For her to feel my touch and being intimate again was really nice but she just doesn't feel anything more for me at this point than she would a hookup. The sex is great but doesn't feel an emotional spark anymore. She likes my company sometimes still but doesn't get excited to talk anymore (no more butterflies), everything just feels empty to her because she just doesn't find me that attractive anymore in that sense (although still very much so visually).

I completely see where she's coming from here. After a while, I made a common mistake: I just let myself go. In her words, I lost my mojo. I saw it happening throughout the relationship but just never really made the time to maintain my game or myself sometimes even. I just got caught up in work, video games, and the relationship. I even stopped writing (which I don't think is a good sign for wanna-be writers). So I'm working on my fundamentals again now. She's even okay with me flirting and going out with other women right now. Not exactly sure if I'll be able to get to the point where I'll be able to rekindle in time before the relationship officially dies (I've got four days starting now until we meet for the last time, she'll be coming over and staying with me for another four days to really give us a chance but also to gather her things). But I'm fighting until the bell rings on this one. She is too, even longer than that actually.

She said she's never had anything like this with anyone, ever. That I've really been a positive change in her life. And doesn't see it happening again with anyone else. She wants to keep in touch somewhat afterwards if this ends (and it probably will, I feel). But she said she will always be willing to hear me out and try something to make a relationship work between us. Even after we part ways.

She has no idea what to do and seems like she doesn't think there is but she's trying and she wants me to fix this somehow so badly. I've been searching for something that helps me figure out what I need to do to save this but I can't seem to find anything. I'm hoping that someone here can help us, I know we'd both be very grateful.
 

PalmaSailor

Space Monkey
space monkey
Joined
Nov 24, 2019
Messages
272
“I ended up flunking out and destroying my GPA since I rarely actually attended class or did any work.”

You get what you deserve in all areas of life.

If you can’t be bothered to attend class and do any work don’t be surprised that a woman doesn’t see a future with you.

Get your shit together and start doing the work that has to be done to lead a successful life.
 

Vision

Tribal Elder
Tribal Elder
Joined
Jul 3, 2020
Messages
324
She has no idea what to do and seems like she doesn't think there is but she's trying and she wants me to fix this somehow so badly. I've been searching for something that helps me figure out what I need to do to save this but I can't seem to find anything. I'm hoping that someone here can help us, I know we'd both be very grateful.

I'm just going to point to the elephant in the room and say that you already know what you need to do.

You know you need to get your shit together. You know you need to be a man. You know you need to be exciting to her. You even talk about that in the novella you posted.

What creates passion and spark in a relationship?

Simple answer is variety... mystery, uncertainty, change, adventure, etc.

How do you create that long term in a relationship?

Simple answer is polarity... and in most cases, it's the masculine/feminine polarity that keeps the passion going in a relationship. You can do it with things like push/pull as well but that usually comes naturally when you're in your masculine.

If you're not in your masculine, which you're clearly not... confusion and being unsure is a clear sign that you're in your feminine right now, she's not going to feel safe, she's not going to feel excitement, and she's not going to feel attracted to you.

What would show her that you're in your masculine? Decisiveness, certainty, knowing what you want, what you're going to do to get it, taking responsibility for your situation, and having a plan, a mission, and a purpose in life.

What's your plan, bro? Be the man, the leader, the guy who is in charge of his life and create a vision for what you're going to do, where you're going to go, and how you're going to get there. You're a man. Act like you're a man and she'll be far more attracted to you.

Act like a little girl who is unsure of what he needs to do and she'll wonder what happened to that amazing man she once had. You can be feminine if it's inside of a strong masculine shell... but if there's no strong masculine shell, you come off as a weak little boy that no woman wants to really be with... certainly not one who has her shit together, looking for a husband who can be the man of the family she envisions.

You need to stand up and take charge of getting your shit together.
 
you miss 100% of the shots you don't take

Smiling_Stray

Tool-Bearing Hominid
Tool-Bearing Hominid
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Messages
187
Thanks guys, and I did but...

Well... it's over... We spent our last week together right after my last post and it was amazing. The last time we had sex, she more passionate than I had ever seen her before and wrapped her legs around me, didn't let go for a good few minutes. Literally. But then I dropped her off in dc (we took a train... It hurts to see trains now... I don't like trains lol). When I finally got back to my car to go home at the station, I called her and she said she loves me but it was a slip up. She was still in the habit and didn't notice until I got noticeably confused. She didn't want to leave and I didn't want her to either but she convinced me this was the best for us (as individuals and in terms of a future)

After that we didn't talk much. It was once a week for about two weeks (that thursday and this past wednesday). I didn't say or do anything in between those times, I was even cold then. I went out to clubs with my buddy and talked to girls. We took pictures and posted them online, she noticed almost right away and really started prying last time I talked to her... last time I talked to her...

Last time I talked to her she seemed like she didn't want to talk because she had some terrible news and it was true. She did. She said she met someone. They haven't fucked or anything yet but they've been talking for a while and he's going over tomorrow (friday) to do the deed. I wouldn't really care much, it's just sex right? No.

Turns out I know who he is. Personally. I took her to a party with friends a while back and they met there. He flirted with her, and she turned him down. I saw it happen and she explained. She wanted him as a friend though and thought it was too sus but he would've been her only friend and it made her happy so I let it fly... he didn't talk to her for a while but then comes out of nowhere again not long after and they start having great conversations. I saw her texting him while we were talking about two months ago, she talked about him alot too. He lives in my town. Goes to a different school though for college and graduates next year. (I kept telling her last night after I found who he is that this is just so fucked up. She doesn't seem to agree.)

Meanwhile, I'm just getting my shit together and back into the same classes I was in when we met to get into a better school. I'm getting a better job. I dropped my video game console off at the dump. She saw all of this and was really proud... but she's already completely sold on him and I know there's nothing I can do. I could talk to him, tell him how we were engaged... but I don't think he'd care honestly. I think I'm too late to do anything, that I've got to stand by and watch him replace me. Hope that he falls short somewhere. My buddy tells me his school is well known for the chicks so idk maybe somebody catches him red handed unfaithful... I would love to. But I don't think I can do anything honestly...

I don't know what to do... I'm in the most pain I've ever known... she said I took the news really well, then I found out who it was and she seemed less compliant. I said I wanted to have some space for a bit, I'd let her know when I'm ready to get back in touch. She said that might be for the best. She seemed colder than I'd seen her in a while. But she seems like she still cares. She knows I hate him now. Honestly I want him dead. Not even kidding. Thought about kicking his shit in. Still do sometimes, but I know that'll just make everything worse. Guess I just need to wait. But I don't like not being her first choice anymore... I read the get your gf article and it seems like even if I did get her back now... after him... I wouldn't be her first choice. And that's the worst part. I'll try to keep going but I don't know... they get married or engaged... I don't think I can take that. She says she'll still come back to this and give us a shot if we're both still single in four years but I don't know man... I'm not waiting and she doesn't want me to... don't think I'll ever get that kind of bond again though...

not sure what else to do from here...
cleardot.gif

I'm in so much pain right now, I'm still not editing (sorry guys :p) ask if there's anything you're having a hard time understanding...
 

POB

Chieftan
Staff member
tribal-elder
Joined
Nov 13, 2019
Messages
1,545
Forget her and keep improving. Develop your game, sample other chicks, and please don't get into another relationship.
In the long run you gonna be in a better state and find someone better than her! Guaranteed.

Every ex I've bumped into to this day I've felt nothing towards her. It was more like "why I was so in love with her again?".
Getting in bed and in open relationships with lots of different women gives your perspective about relationship dynamics.

Also read this.
 

Vision

Tribal Elder
Tribal Elder
Joined
Jul 3, 2020
Messages
324
I've got to stand by and watch him replace me.

Whatever you do, don't stand by and/or watch him replace you. That's just self-torture.

Whenever you're down, sure, go through that emotion and release it.

But when you're done, create a brighter future than anything you've experienced in the past or what's going on in the present.

Create a goal, a plan, and a visualize yourself finding a better woman, a woman who craves you, who respects you... a woman where your ex and that dude see you with her and they're both jealous.

Or maybe you want multiple women? Do whatever works for you. Come up with a vision that excites you and move towards that future with a strong and passionate purpose. Forget about these people from your past because better times are ahead of you.

That's what you should do and the best way forward.
 

Fuck This

Cro-Magnon Man
Cro-Magnon Man
Joined
Jul 24, 2015
Messages
2,091
Always remember this ....

She's not your girlfriend, it's just your turn. Take it as a win. You banged her one last time before she went off to the next best thing. SHe WILL be back, and you will know she's fun but not relationship material. Likely in 6-12 months she will send you the "Hey" message and you need to be sure NOT to get all Stage 5 clingy.... SPORTFUCK ONLY , and you have the upper hand...



Don't believe me? THeres plenty more folks saying it here : https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=she's+not+your+girlfriend+it's+just+your+turn
 

Smiling_Stray

Tool-Bearing Hominid
Tool-Bearing Hominid
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Messages
187
Upon reflection, I realize that things have changed a bit in terms of the situation and the updates are worth a thread of their own. So I'll be leaving a link to the new thread here in a minute if you want to follow this further or add to the topic:
 
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