Well at least to me, I am.
Ah, I cannot believe that it has now been a year since the accidental discovery of that inappropriate skype conversation that led to a forced admission of a three-month affair.
As I look back on that day (22 November 2013), I still don't know how I made it through without causing a scandal or destroying his or my life. Perhaps because at that time I was surrounded by the right people and as I have always said, I was prepared for that battle. I can compare a break-up with the death of someone you love. You mourn over it for sometime, eventually you learn how to let go, until you finally move on. Then again, when that "anniversary" comes, you somehow get reminded of that painful experience. This is happening to me right now. Don't get me wrong, I am completely over my previous relationship and I am very happy now. But because it was exactly this time last year that this happened, I can't help but feel a bit emotional. Emotional in a sense that I don't regret losing the person because I honestly don't, but emotional because I still cannot believe up to this time how I endured the betrayal, the pain, the lies, the hurtful words, the false hopes- during the best and worst times in three months (Thanksgiving, Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, New Year, my son's death anniversary and Valentine's Day) without losing it.
It may have been a very painful and emotional journey for me, but a lot of good things actually came out of the break up. I did things that made me realize that I am indeed an amazing woman. I believe I am. Take it or leave it. Or you can just fake it.
1. The telephone call
- At some point during the whole ordeal when you have been lied to over and over again, all you need is to find out the truth. And when you do, talk like the wife and let her be her- the other woman. That phone call confirmed it all.
2. The Final Showdown
- I don't know but at that time, I just felt like I had to put up one last good fight. All my friends were against it, but I did it anyway. I knew it was over at that point, but I wanted to show him and his friends how amazing I was. Hence, a surprise birthday party which everyone enjoyed and was grateful for. It was a success and that moment I knew I have won the battle.
3. The Face-Off
- "Kilalanin mo kung sino ang kalaban mo" (Know your enemy) - This phrase is actually from a film and so when it was my turn in real life, I put it into action. Some of my friends didn't see the point in it, but I knew I had to do it and I am glad I did. This was one of the proudest moments in my life. It was not easy being face to face with the other person who put me in that horrible situation, but somehow I managed to stay calm and be my "nice" self. She actually asked why I was so nice. All I could say was, "I know, right?". I have proven yet again that I can be the bigger person amidst adversity.
4. The Venice Trip
- Sometimes you just need to make a random decision to do one thing that you thought you could not do. I have not traveled abroad on my own before because I have always been scared. But it turned out that my trip to Venice alone on Christmas day was one of the best travels I have ever done. There, I was alone with a pen and a notebook, and I just wrote down whatever came across my mind. I never felt so liberated. And in Venice, I made one of the most difficult decisions I had to make. Read where it started and where it ended here.
5. The Three- Months Rule and Self-help Books
- For a while self-help books became my companion- "It's Called Break-up Because It's Broken" by Greg Behrendt, "Not Just Friends" by Shirley P Glass, "Coming Apart" by Daphne Rose Kingma, "How to Mend a Broken Heart" by Christine Webber. They gave really good advice, but at the end of the day it was my life and I wanted to deal with the whole thing the way I thought would work for me. Coping with a heartbreak is trial and error. I did whatever I thought was right at that moment. And even if it didn't work, I learned from it and then I tried again. I defied a lot of break-up rules. My friends told me to "He-Tox" him for at least three months but I didn't. I met up with him quite regularly in fact. But surprisingly, the more I saw him the more I realized that I didn't want to be with him anymore. The more my feelings changed towards him. The more I lost my love for him. The easier I let go of him. So in reality, seeing him worked for me. And then apparently I had to cut ties with his family and friends. That I couldn't and will never do because he was the only one who hurt me. His family and friends didn't do anything wrong to me. They didn't and still don't deserve to be cut off from my life. So until now I am still friends with his friends and I am still in communication with some of his family members.
6. The Songs of Empowerment
- Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys.... I had a playlist full of "Darna" songs and listened to them over and over again until one morning I found myself singing and dancing into their music in the mirror. That moment I knew I was on my way to recovery.
7. The Counsellor
- By the time I decided to see a counsellor, I have already moved on. My counsellor even asked me if I needed her because she didn't think I did. This was only three months after my breakup. But I said I wanted to make sure that the only direction I was taking was forward and not backwards. So I saw her regularly for 6 weeks and it really helped me in my recovery. Seeing a counsellor doesn't mean you are in a deep shit. Sometimes when you are going through a hard time, you need that one person who doesn't have any idea of who you are to listen to your story.
8. Finding my own Happiness
- One of his friends gave him an advice to help me find my own happiness. I thought that was one of the most stupid advice I have heard. You do not help anyone find their happiness. They are in charge of their own happiness. I am in charge of my own happiness. I may have become dependent on him for a while, but that didn't mean I didn't know what could make me happy. And now a year on, I have found my happiness and who helped me? No one. Just myself.
And now you may ask why I am writing this. Simply because I am now at a point in my life where I am happy. My life may have changed but all for the better. I found my inner strength and my inner peace. I have the most amazing people around me who add meaning into my life and who continue to make me happy. And you are one of them. Besides there is nothing to hide. I am not perfect and I am not afraid to tell the world that I am not perfect. I may have failed in my relationship but that doesn't make me less of a person. I am still whole despite of what I went through and I am proud of myself.
It may be hard to believe on your part but I have no hard feelings towards him. I didn't hate him and never will. If anything, I am thankful to him for everything that he has taught me. And I am grateful that this happened because now I know how to love myself better. The whole thing has taught me a great deal about life, love, men, forgiveness, letting go, moving on and most especially finding my own happiness.
Happiness is a choice and I choose to be happy. Acceptance and forgiveness is the key. Never hate, just love,love,love.
From The Amazing Woman.
tintin x
