[quote]You'll start saying look, I'm a good person, and I do not deserve this kind of treatment, and the more you get to that place, the more you'll start to actively protect your own heart and to make big strides in getting your life together without her.[quote]AMEN!!! Sing it!!!! Tad, this is the gospel truth here. Getting your self-esteem back is critical for you. We've been saying and offering ideas. Celebrating things is a great way to do it. Little Friday it is smile But this is the why you do it. Little Friday is the how. Or one of hopefully. The more you do it and the more you realize that your self-respect is critical, the better you become. You're doing it Tad. Keep taking those steps!!!

Great stuff. Some of the times suck Tad. But holistically, they are but a point in time and you are still with you. Self respect is critical and you do deserve to have that at any cost.

Keep up the good work, amigo. You are starting to gain perspective. It dawned on me what you're doing. You are trying to develop a story of sorts, to help explain what is happening. I have done the same as has any person out there. It's a deep seated need. The hard part is that you don't have all the pieces to this puzzle. You likely won't because you don't think like that. That's ok, Tad. You can get your self-respect back without knowing all the answers. It becomes surprisingly easy with practice and time. That's because it's not really about you and because you are the sane one. And because you deserve your self-respect for all you have and continue to do.

You're breaking the co-dependency you didn't think you had smile That's healthy and will take time and practice and effort as well. It's ok though, you have those things in spades...

Be well my friend.

AJ

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" MLK
Put the glass down...
"Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world
Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."