Author Topic: I think my heart broke  (Read 6944 times)

Hopalong

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I think my heart broke
« on: July 05, 2008, 10:32:42 PM »
Gardener and I are going through a dance and I tihink I have to leave the floor.
Don't have the emotional stamina to hold on and wait and see. Damn shame.

But when I sat with my feelings I felt my heart break.
Got chest pain several times today.

I figure, it's dangerous. I just can't tolerate more heartbresk.

I am just not as damned strong as I hoped to be.

I can't reget having gotten close. But I have to back off quick before it gets worse.

He's coming by for a light supper tomorrow of the veggies we grew together.

For me it's the giving and receiving of affection that mattered most. Not just fireworks but the hours of cuddling close just to watch TV.

I had not been kissed or held close in quite a few years. To let it go is hard because the future isn't always a friendly looking thing. But I think I'd better let it go right now, not try to wait and see. It feels horrible.

It's hard not to look back at a marriage where withdrawal of affection was the deepest wound. So, gardener pulling away is not the same, but it hits the same bruise. And gardener says he doesn't know if he's capable of an intimate relationship, and he's "such a lone wolf" ... and if those are ever words to believe, I'd better believe them now.

Him calling and being sweet and friendly doesn't help. If he's no longer holding me, or is holding me at bay, I've gotta get out of it quick.

Can't take it.

 :cry:

Hops

"That'll do, pig, that'll do."

Overcomer

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2008, 10:56:53 PM »
Oh Hops.  There is nothing worse than heart ache.  All we want is love and peace and happiness.  I am holding you with a virtual hug!
Kelly

"The Best Way Out is Through........and try laughing at yourself"

dandylife

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2008, 12:04:16 AM »
Hopalong,

You want different things. He is being honest with you. At least you have that.

My mom is 65 (my dad passed away) and she has a boyfriend. I ask her "will you live together? marry?" She is as adamant as he - no! But that works for them.

They both want companionship AND independence.

When you want more than someone can give, it is heartbreaking. I'm so sorry.

Have you shared with him your vision of what you want?

Dandylife
"All things not at peace will cry out." Han Yun

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seasons

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2008, 12:32:44 AM »

Oh Hops,

I'm sorry your heart hurts.

((Big Hugs of comfort dear friend))  love seasons
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Maya Angelou

lighter

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2008, 12:40:22 AM »
I wish it didn't hurt so much.

That you could just enjoy the time and activities you have together.... for what they are.

The more time you spend.... the harder to let go.

You're right about that.

Backing away, before you get any deeper..... probably is prudent.

Believing what he tells you.....

 is wise.

Protecting your heart.....

 is self care.

But darn....

 it sure was nice twirling in the garden with a partner, wasn't it?

Please know.....

the twirling won't end.....

you'll just be dancing solo for a bit.

((((((Hops))))))

I wish he could still twirl..... even if his steps fall short of your expectations.

You're so deserving of affection and companionship.

You'll find someone ever more compatible....

::shaking head::  It sure was a nice refresher course

in romance,

wasn't it?

Lighter

Ami

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2008, 04:03:07 AM »
Dear Hops,
 I am so sorry and I do understand. The pain in your chest is your heart breaking. I have had that, too.It hurts so,so,so much. We have had so much rejection and betrayal as children of N's . When pain happens ,in the present, we re-feel ALL the old pain(and there is SO much of it)
 My heart goes out to you, Hops. I am so ,very sorry.
   Love to you,  Ami

(((((((((((((Hops)))))))))))
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.        Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of our problems come from losing contact with our instincts,with the age old wisdom stored within us.
   Carl Jung

Leah

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2008, 05:41:42 AM »


((((((((( Hops ))))))))))))

Everything we do, and don't do, affects our precious heart.

Take good care of yours.

I am genuinely so sorry to know of your heartache.

Love, Leah
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gratitude28

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2008, 09:05:11 AM »
Fish or cut bait...

Hopsy, I am so sorry. But I think you should back off for a bit and see if that changes his perspective. Like you said, it is better to do so than to be further wounded. It sounds to me like he has fallen for you and is trying to find himself an out - no doubt out of fear. Let him work through this. But let him work through it alone. He really sounds like a great guy. Relationships are hard and scary - more so when we are older. I think you two complement each other, but I also think he needs to be on his own again to see it.

Lots of love, and the feeling this will all have a happy ending if you can be stern now.

Love, Beth
"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable." Douglas Adams

CB123

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2008, 09:25:33 AM »
Hopsy,

You do what is best for you--you know we will all support you in whatever you decide.

But it does sound like he is giving you exactly what you hoped for--someone to share small, every day moments with and to hold and care for.  Of course, things change, and if they have changed for you, you should honor that. 

We're here for you, dear Hops.

CB
When they are older and telling their own children about their grandmother, they will be able to say that she stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way -- and it surely has not -- she adjusted her sails.  Elizabeth Edwards 2010

Ami

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2008, 09:33:20 AM »
Fish or cut bait...

Hopsy, I am so sorry. But I think you should back off for a bit and see if that changes his perspective. Like you said, it is better to do so than to be further wounded. It sounds to me like he has fallen for you and is trying to find himself an out - no doubt out of fear. Let him work through this. But let him work through it alone. He really sounds like a great guy. Relationships are hard and scary - more so when we are older. I think you two complement each other, but I also think he needs to be on his own again to see it.

Lots of love, and the feeling this will all have a happy ending if you can be stern now.

Love, Beth

Just my 2 cents. I 100% agree with Beth. He may feel crowded, not BY you, but by fear of intimacy. Intimacy is very,very scary. People need to know that they have freedom to leave,so they CAN come back.      Ami
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.        Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of our problems come from losing contact with our instincts,with the age old wisdom stored within us.
   Carl Jung

Certain Hope

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #10 on: July 06, 2008, 11:39:29 AM »
((((((((Hops)))))))) your heart knows what you need.

I'm praying that you will receive the satisfaction of those needs... in abundance, to overflowing!

With love,
Carolyn

sea storm

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #11 on: July 06, 2008, 12:22:11 PM »
Dearest Hops,

So brave of you to open your heart after all you have been through.

Please dont take your lover's withdrawl personally.  He has his journey and he knows he cant be there at a deep level intimately.  This would so not work for you.  You are deep and capable of great love and commitment.

I guess the buddhists would say to stay calm and relaxed no matter what is pulling you off center.  One cannot know what the other will do but staying centered will be helpful no matter what.  I dont know what you have given away so that you are not centered right now. Maybe you are. 

Keep writing and getting love and support here, ole buddy.  You are loved.

Life is a messy thing isnt it?

Lots of love and hugs,

Sea storm

Hopalong

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #12 on: July 06, 2008, 01:13:30 PM »
Thank you, with a full heart, to all of you.
I think you are all right.
I think it would be good if I could be Zenlike and calm.
I think it would be good if I could cut my losses and retreat neatly and with dignity (taking him at his word).
I think it would be good if I could "just be friends" now. (Well, I'll do that in some way, since he's in my UU family.)
I think it would be good if I could be steady and strong and let it play out without my ventricles going off like hoses.
I think it would be AWESOME if he worked through the fear and had a conversion experience to the wonderfuless of what I'm offering (now).
I think it would be AWESOME if I weren't so unable to feel heartbreak over and over and still hang in.

But I can't.

He hasn't done anything wrong whatsoever. He has been his dear funny spooky self (can't spend the night in the bed self or even in another room, has to be in his own bed -- he once described himself as a "control freak" -- I have never felt him trying to control me, more than he just has all these limits in place to protect himself).

I do love him dearly and I can do it long-term as a friend and UU relative. After some time.

What I think I need now is this:
About six months of minimal contact (nice hellos at church, then scoot) to get over the wanting him physically. I know time does that and it will be okay. I know I will be able to see him eventually and not have the twinge.
Complete self-forgiveness for once AGAIN underestimating my vulnerability.

He has done nothing wrong.

What I feel like doing is simply wandering around among the folks who mostly love me most of the time and just saying whatever I want about how I'm feeling and playing no games about it at all. I just don't care what people think. I don't even care what I think.

I just want to respect that what I feel matters and I deserve the tenderest love. And if his neuroses trigger mine, that's neither his fault nor mine.

And most of all, I want not to regret it. When I think about who he is, my heart melts. I had the good sense and the good intuition to pick a NOT-MEAN man to love. That's progress! Really, it's HUGE progress for me! He's not mean! He's a dear! And I am grateful that although it's brittle enough to break, my heart can still love.

And so it goes!

Our garden is awesome. Got cucumbers coming out my ears and the little watermelon look like happy green baby soccer balls.

love,
Hops
"That'll do, pig, that'll do."

Izzy_*now*

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #13 on: July 06, 2008, 01:37:23 PM »
Dear Hops

Words fail me at the hurt you must be feeling. And it is a different hurt when:

I had the good sense and the good intuition to pick a NOT-MEAN man to love. That's progress! Really, it's HUGE progress for me! He's not mean! He's a dear! And I am grateful that although it's brittle enough to break, my heart can still love.

You were brave enough to love again. Some of us are not. For just now I think of the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7j8NhBtnpw ...

..and as time goes by, another one might fit you differently.

For now, go with the flow? and love yourself all the while.

Love
Izzy
"The joy of love lasts such a short time, but the pain of love lasts one's whole life"

gjazz

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Re: I think my heart broke
« Reply #14 on: July 06, 2008, 01:38:44 PM »
I don't know if this will help or not, but from experience, I believe you WILL do all those things you listed.  Not right away, and not all at the same time, but over time, yes.  Twice in my life, my heart was so broken it manifested physically, like you say here: chest pains, and I had trouble breathing, and really felt like giving up on life.  One was over ten years ago, the other two years ago.  Neither did anything wrong, as you say here.  And in both cases, if I see him now, it's completely twinge-free.  The time I've spent getting up each day and focusing on what I want out of that day, hard though it was at first to put one foot in front on the other, made me feel so much stronger, more content, genuinely happy much of the time.  It couldn't come without first taking that long walk through the sadness and disappointment and in my case feeling totally worthless and unlovable (not coincidentally these are the things my NF used to say to me as a child: "you don't know how to love, and nobody will love you," and "you're not worth anything anyway"), yeah, OK thanks dad.  For me it meant setting small goals at first, and being kind to myself, even in small ways.

Postscript: one of them did come back.  And I decided he wasn't right for me.  

Take care of yourself now.