This week, Patricia writes in to tell us about her surprising recent breakup that she's having trouble understanding.
Here's what she wrote:
My Boyfriend, partner of going on 4 years and I got into a huge argument over my trying to rescue an abused Horse, and my Girlfriend was going to buy it.
He thinks he knows it all with 4 degrees and got all bent out of shape when things were not going the way he wanted them to with the transaction, saying a lot of incompetent things were going on with communication with the owner of this horse, my girlfriend and me.
My Girlfriend is an X News Anchor/now Author of 5 books and he demeaned me and her acting like we did not know how to carry out a transaction to rescue this horse.
So we had a big argument.
He wrote me an email and said, Goodbye Forever! It has hurt me so badly. He has an anger problem I am sure of and a hot temper.
Then two days later he called and I did not answer. 2 hours later he texted and ask if I was okay. I texted back and said,"Yes, thank you for asking".
He did not text back or call. It has been 3 days.
Do I call him or just wait and see what he is going to do? He is the love of my life and everyday we said I love you to one another plus talked every night on the phone for 2 hours.
I am heart broken for I am not sure if he has broken up with me or just was so mad he said that to me? Or should I just lay low and for how long?
Thank you Jane!
- Patricia
My Response:
I’m loving you already, Patricia! Anyone who’s rescuing an abused animal shares my heart. You obviously have a beautiful, caring, loving, compassionate heart that does more than just beat – it feels. Deeply.
So I’m assuming this man we’re talking about here is a practical one who loves and appreciates this heart of yours but also sees things from the practical side and likes to contribute in his own way.
Many men have a fragile ego, the measure of which is proportional to their sensitivity.
He obviously loves your kind heart and sensitivity. But for some reason, it also sounds like something here has triggered him more than usual.
Let's talk about what we know here.
It’s been 3 days and he hasn't contacted you.
For two people who’ve gone from saying "I love you" everyday and talking every night on the phone for 2 hours, to this last exchange and nothing more from him, that's quite a jump from one extreme to another.
Something’s off. Something bigger got triggered in him by this. In a case like this, I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to your heart here and reach out.
Listen to him first.
Try to understand why this triggered him to the point that he wanted to end the relationship. As much as you feel hurt right now, really try to put that aside and understand why this triggered him the way it did. Do your best to remain quiet and just hear him.
The longer he keeps talking without interruption, the closer he'll come to understanding his own true feelings. Then he'll be better able to communicate them to you.
My guess is that it goes much deeper than what's on the surface here.
Go into this conversation with absolutely no intention of telling him about how you feel, or how hurt you are, or any of that. That will come later. For now, you're just trying to understand why he felt so strongly about what happened that he wanted to end your relationship over it.
Just let him get it all out and when he's finished talking, simply end with something along the lines of "I want to understand what you're feeling and I appreciate you exploring your feelings with me. I need some space from this so that I can process my own feeling and understand this better. Let's talk again tomorrow".
Or it could be in two days, or three days, or however much time you think you need.
This will give you some time to sit with it and truly understand your own feelings without responding to him on a heightened emotional level. Take this time to write out your feelings in your journal (start one if you haven't already) and process through them until you understand your own triggers here.
You said that "he thinks he knows it all" and that "he has an anger problem", so those are probably good places to start.
Does he make you feel small and unimportant with his words and/or actions? Do you feel like you don't have a voice in the relationship?
Keep writing and exploring your own feelings, along with what he's told you about his feelings, until you feel like you really understand why this escalated.
Then, when you're ready, be true to your own self and honor your heart by saying to him what you need to say.
Ask him to respect you by listening to you explain your feelings the same way you listened to him explain his own earlier. He may not be able to do this, and you can't control that, but give him the chance to try.
Regardless of whether he chooses to listen and understand or not, you'll know what you're dealing with in this relationship. Then you can decide if this is what you want in your life.
It puts YOU in the position of doing the choosing.
You can choose to accept him and love him the way he is, or you can choose to move on to something else. Just don't expect him to change.
If he’s loved you for 4 years, he’s seen you for a long time. He knows who you are and what you’re about. And he knows how you feel about him, about your relationship with him and what you mean to him.
Also, know that if somehow something in your rescuing of this beautiful animal and its arrangements - the transaction, or something else in the details - was a deal breaker to him, you're much better off knowing this now.
Because I have a feeling this isn’t just about one abused animal, but that if there comes a time where there will be another one to rescue or some other kind of lost soul or cause, you’ll be back here again in another transaction, with more details that may somehow trigger him.
Through this, you are learning more about him. Obviously, there was something here for you to find out.
I hope this helps.
Love,
Jane
What do you think our lovely friend Patricia should do in her situation? Share your thoughts with her and the rest of us below in the comments!
Alasha says
wow! Patricia I want to grow up to be like you! Such a kind soul to want rescue an animal and a HORSE at that.
"he thinks he knows it all" and that "he has an anger problem"
What is life like being with someone like that? I am happy you have so much self awareness - continue even though the process can be painful at that. And remember, while you have him your life. you might be blocking the way for someone isn't a know it all and no anger problem to come in your life.
(talking to self) smile
Lolly says
I would also reach out to him, you've been together for 4 years for crying out loud. You deserve an explanation.
Take Jane's advice, listen to what he says and then make a decision based on that. All the best!
Patricia says
Thank you Lolly! Please read reply above. We are back together for now. Keeping an eye on things and trying to find out what causes him to strike out. He seems to have a lot of resentment, hurt and anger in his heart. I feel it is from his only marriage he was in for 40 years. He is age 68 and I am 70! We both are very active and in good health so I still have a lot of living to do and will not be unhappy again! Keeping my finger's crossed! Thank you again Lolly!
Nett says
Hi Patricia,
I think Jane's advice is spot on here. It seems like something might have triggered something inside him that he wrote a nasty email saying "goodbye". It seems like he does have second thoughts since he reached out. He might be processing things within himself that's why you haven't heard much from him. I know it's torture going from hearing from someone everyday to nothing. I would also do what Jane suggests. If he does not call or text he within a day, I would reach out and talk to him and process what he says. Sit with what was said in the conversation and see if you want this in your life.
Hope everything works out for you!
Patricia says
Thank you so very much for your comment and advice. Fortunately he wrote me a long email in detail and then called me. We had a long talk and agreed to give it another chance. So we are back together. I don't know how long it will last but this is not the only time he has argued with me and acted immature. I am 70 years old and very petite and attractive for my age and I don't have time to be unhappy at this stage in my life. I am also thanking Jane for her wonderful advice on making that journal as she said. Also anytime he belittles me I am making a note of that as well. He will say things like "you don't think!" I tell him not to put me down and he laughs and says he is just joking. Well I don't think it is joking and I am now beginning to see a pattern thanks to Jane with some possible mental abuse. So keeping an eye on things and keeping my eyes wide open and ears!! Again thank you for your help and comment! Patricia
Angel says
It is definitely not joking, Patricia. I'm glad you're keeping track of that. People hide their true feelings and thoughts by saying they're "joking". That's good gaslighting there, and then they flip it and say you have no sense of humor when you see right through them.
If this is not the first time he's put you down, please reconsider if this is the kind of partner you want. Good luck.