Last night, I covered my heart with barbed wire. I did it because someone I love sliced my heart wide open, and I couldn’t take any more emotional pain.
It was a moment — the worst kind of moment — and most of you’ve experienced it. It’s that moment someone vomits up the truth about their feelings in such hurtful words you think they’ve been holding in their venom for years.
And after last night’s experience, I decided it was time to sever ties. It was time to say goodbye to this person who’d so carelessly shredded my heartstrings.
However, there’s a problem with goodbyes.
If you’re like me, they hurt more than the emotional wounds someone inflicts.
This is why so many of us stay in toxic relationships. Our lovers admit they cheat, say they’re no longer attracted to us, or tell us we’re worthless. Yet, night after night, all we can think about are the good times. We “forget” that, over time or in one fell swoop, they crushed our spirits so brutally we wondered if we’d ever recover.
“It’s amazing how someone can break your heart and you can still love them with all the little pieces.” — Ella Harper
Sometimes saying goodbye is the only way to be happy again.
You know your feelings. You know the extent of your suffering. You know your relationship. Only you.
So I can’t tell you if it’s time to say goodbye.
But you know. Deep down.
There’s a song (one of my favorites) by the music group A Great Big World. The song features Christina Aguilera. It’s called “Say Something,” and the chorus line is “Say Something I’m Giving Up on You.”
Here’s an excerpt from the song:
“Say something, I’m giving up on you
I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to you
Anywhere, I would’ve followed you
Say something, I’m giving up on you
And I will swallow my pride
You’re the one that I love
And I’m saying goodbye”
Ugly Truth: Sometimes, you have to swallow your pride, admit that the past is no longer the present, and say goodbye to have a better future.
If this is you, it’s time, my friend. It’ll hurt (a lot). However, sometimes you’ve got to say the words. Otherwise, you’ll never be as truly happy as you can be.
I wish you wisdom and truth,
Dawn
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: iStockPhoto.com
