How to Handle a Break up

It's not usually fun and it's not usually pleasant to go through the oh-so-heartbreaking, awe-inspiring break up.  But let's face it, it's going to happen.  So how do we handle it the break up comes our way?

1.  DO NOT REBOUND.  It's not silly.  It's not cute.  It's not okay.  Do not rebound ever.  We have to come to terms with being alone again.  After a years-long relationship, this WILL be hard, but bouncing into one relationship right after you get out of one is not going to make you feel any better.  You're settling and nobody feels better when they settle.  You probably settled in the first place, which is why you're in the situation that you're in.  Wait.   Be alone for awhile.  Learn to like being just you, and not being you and some other person.  Besides, being single is pretty damn fun.  You can go out and party every night now.  Woo hoo!

2.  SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE.  So being alone is probably not the best idea right now.  Some people deal better with things alone, but the majority of us probably need a little support.  It's a major life change, not a bad one but a major one, and support is helpful.  Call up your buddies.  If you don't have any friends, call your mom or your dad or your sister or your cousin-twice-removed.  Who cares, just call somebody.  And if there's nobody wanting to listen, go see a therapist.  No shame in that.  Therapists are paid to listen, it's what they do.

3.  TAKE SOME TIME OFF.  You know all that vacation time you were saving to spend with your lover in Vegas?  Use it.  Go somewhere.  Do something.  Treat yourself.  You deserve it for putting up with your ex's shit for such a long time.  Good for you.  You just saved some other poor, innocent soul from the worst years of their lives.  But now you're back with a vengence, and vacation time is a great time to party.

4.  LIVE IT UP.  You're single again.  Remember who you were before you met your ex?  Well that's who you're gonna be again.  But now you're a little wiser, a little tougher, and probably even a little better in bed.  Right on.  You're stronger than you were before this break up, and now it's time to get out there and act like the righteous dude you've become.  Live it up.  Life's out there waiting for you, it's not gonna sit around and wait for you to live it.

Break ups are only as bad  as you make them out to be.  Take this downer situation and turn it into a learning experience.

Cheers!