Dating again after a 1-year—or 25-year—relationship ended? Here’s Dr. Margaret Rutherford’s advice for re-entering the dating world.
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I encourage folks to write in and “Ask Dr. Margaret” questions.
This came from Lana.
Question: “I was married for 23 years. I’m ending a four year relationship that began the last year of my marriage. I’ll be living alone. The thought of making new friends and dating at 50 seems dreadful. Any help on how to build a new life?”
Being alone. Entering mid-life. Re-entering the dating world. Oodles of what would be termed “psychological stressors.”
And dreading it.
The only other fact Lana told me was that most of her family lives thousands of miles away. So she is on her own, for the first time in around 27 or 28 years. More than half of her life.
Yes. I have suggestions.
1) Wait to date.
Get closure on one relationship before you begin another. There is a reason why relationships don’t work. You have to have time to figure that out. To understand what your part of the problem was. So that you won’t make that mistake again.
Did you get lost in the relationship? Were you too angry? Not assertive enough? Were there control issues? Trust problems? What is the work for you to do as you leave?
Lana may be considering dating before she has really gotten this kind of closure and understanding (“I am ending a 4 year relationship”…. “the thought of dating….“). The few words she has written might even indicate this is a pattern (“… am ending a relationship that began the last year of my marriage“).
This piece of advice – to wait – is probably the least followed of any that I give to people. I didn’t follow it myself one time.
That didn’t end well.
People are frightened of being alone. They are hurt because of one relationship ending, and need comfort.
When you are older, you may tend to rationalize that “time is of the essence”. My thought? If you don’t wait – at least a little while – that time will be wasted.
2) Realize dating is messy. It’s a learning process.
You go out on a few dates with someone for fun. They get really into you. You don’t. You are going to have that not so fun conversation.
Or they might have to have it with you. If the shoe is on the other foot.
It’s messy. Uncomfortable. Hard to hurt someone’s feelings. Hard to risk being hurt.
That’s the dread part Lana is talking about.
I remember Brett. First guy I dated after marriage #2. Three whirlwind weeks. We worked together at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He was great. I was hooked.
He ditched me. I wandered around the hospital like a drenched cat.
Brett was no where to be seen. He switched shifts.
I licked my extremely bruised ego for months after that. Took time before I risked again.
Messy.
What I learned. I had to become more comfortable with being alone.
3) Focus on yourself instead of on the dating. Make your life what it needs to be.
“Well that’s easy for you to say. You are married and have somebody…”. Anyone single and lonely might want to shout that at me right now.
I still believe it. I believe that if you focus on making your own life as happy and full as possible, you are very likely to attract someone who wants… guess what? A man or a woman who is happy and content with their life.
Maybe you won’t attract a savior. Or a control freak. Or a Brett.
That doesn’t mean you quit Match or EHarmony. That doesn’t mean you don’t go out on dates. Or talk to your friends about potential people about there.
It’s just about what you focus on. It’s the only thing you really have control over. Your own choices.
You keep open. Keep positive.
You won’t dread your life.
4) When you do date, listen to how that person talks about their past relationships.
How someone talks about their past is how they are going to think and talk about you. If they blame their ex for all the problems in their marriage. If they attribute never having committed to a relationship to having “needy girlfriends” or “”guys that were all about themselves”. That’s how eventually they will think about you.
Not at first.
But it will happen.
You need to listen for what they have learned from their years of relating. About themselves. For example, a recent study showed that cheaters will tend to cheat again. Perhaps they are far less likely to stray if they were truly remorseful and did something with it.
Now you are making sure the other person has followed the same process you have!
5) Just don’t ignore that thing that you really want to ignore because you are in lust-love. Just don’t.
Like he drinks too much. Or she hasn’t paid her taxes in 3 years. Or he never got that annulment. Whatever.
Listen to your gut.
So head out there! Don’t settle. It’s supposed to feel like it did when you were 17. Or at least it will for a little while.
Enjoy. Fall in love.
Just keep your head attached.
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You can read more of Dr. Margaret on her website. Subscribe and you will receive a free copy of her new eBook, “Seven Commandments Of Good Therapy“, a basic guide on how to choose a potential therapist or how to evaluate the therapy you are currently receiving. You can also email her with comments: askdrmargaret@
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Originally published at Dr. Margaret Rutherford and is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
One of the most important things I listen for in dating someone new is how they position their past relationships. Are they taking responsibility for their part? Do they act respectful of the differences between two people? Did they reflect on what happened? Or is it just a lot of blaming? Where ever they are in that process is what they will bring into the new relationship. Thank you for clearly outlining the issues I need to continue to be aware of Margaret.
Kimberly
http://FiftyJewels.com
You are welcome Kimberly. It sounds as if you have learned some of these lessons already. Thanks so much for commenting.