Another analogy is driving from NY to LA(reconciliation and growth). The LBS has seen the light, has a map and is heading directly for LA. The WAS doesn't know where they are going, they just get in the car and drive, so they head up to Boston, back to Miami, over to Detroit, down to New Orleans, up to DC, and so forth. The LBS has a tracking system and sees all of the turns the WAS is taking, wanting desperately to point them in the right direction. The WAS won't listen, and spends lots of time, money, and effort not getting anywhere. The LBS grows more and more frustrated at the distance between them. How long will the LBS wait in LA for the WAS to arrive? As time passes, the compass starts working for the WAS, then start honing in on the direction, but still are driving all over the place. It ends up taking the WAS a very long time to arrive.
M:39 W:37 Together: 16 years Married: 11 years Bomb: May '09 (ILYBNILWY) Moved out: Nov '09 D: 10, 8, 4