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In 2003, after about 2 and 1/2 years of dating, Eric and I broke up. We told our shocked friends and family that it was a mutual break up, but in reality, I never felt that it was. I knew that I gradually pushed Eric away and I built a wall around myself so high that he felt like he couldn’t get through.
This ‘wall’ represented my insecurities, eating disorder, and everything that came with it. It wasn’t just the surface things- the obsessiveness, calorie counting, or over-exercising- it was the absence of self-love and my lack of ability to be loved fully in return.
Our breakup wasn’t mutual at all though. I pushed Eric so far away that he had no choice but to slowly raise a red flag and surrender. (He claims, to this day, that it was just as much his fault as it was mine, but I didn’t see it that way). It is hell living with an eating disorder, but it is probably even more difficult loving someone who has an eating disorder. Any experience that we go through that affects our self-esteem changes who we are, how we act and react, the things we say, how we carry ourselves, the fights we have, and how much we let our loved ones in. Eric got bits and pieces of the ‘fun, authentic, happy-go-lucky Ange’ and other times he got ‘Ange with no self-esteem or confidence’.
On the day we broke up, we lay in bed, crying and embracing each other knowing that as soon as we let each other go it would all be over. I told him that I would change and I would get help once and for all, but he was firm that we needed time apart to grow as individuals. He never said or made me feel that our problems were my fault or that I was the cause of the troubles. He took more blame than he probably even deserved, but I guess it does take two to tango. We talked and cried for hours and hours that day before he finally had the courage to leave. I really didn’t think he could do it. We were soul mates after all, high school sweethearts who had big plans for our lives.
I closed the door and collapsed in a heap on the ground, sobbing, but with no sound or tears coming out. I was now officially empty, but not in the way that I had wanted to be. Suddenly, my goal of being ‘x’ weight didn’t matter to me anymore. Nor did it matter how many calories I ate for lunch. I felt like a selfish a-hole. How ironic that I believed being thin would solve all of my problems, when in fact, the pursuit of thinness ended up causing so many more problems than I ever dreamed of.
I sat there expecting Eric to come back knocking on the door.
He didn’t, though I knew he wanted to.
Eric wanted to stay in touch, but I severed all communication after I saw him at my birthday party the next week. No calls, no emails, no msn chats, no seeing each other. I had a stiff upper lip through it all, but it was the only way I could move on.
Our break-up had a silver lining that I couldn’t see at the time; during our time apart I was able to reflect on things that I needed to change in myself. After the partying (and pretending like I didn’t care) got old, I started to work on me for the first time in years.
As it turned out, we ended up getting back together later on that year. By coincidence we ended up in the same Calculus class at our university and after an awkward Long Time No See and small talk, I figured that would be the end of it. For weeks, Eric asked me to catch up over coffee, but I politely declined. My broken heart had never mended itself and I was on guard, but ultimately, I couldn’t deny the love that I felt for him. I avoided him like the plague because I knew what we had was still so strong. I decided I was willing to take the risk.
I’m not going to say that it was easy when we got back together because for a long time I wasn’t sure if it was going to work. If the insecurities were bad before the break-up, they were twice as bad the months following getting back together. I thought he was going to run away whenever there was a problem, but he certainly proved me wrong. I also proved myself wrong by learning to love myself and to give myself entirely to someone else. We both grew up a lot and we learned how to communicate more than ever.
To me, Valentine’s Day isn’t about $75 wilted roses, boxes of chocolates, or mushy Hallmark cards. It’s not about cramming into an over-packed restaurant and selecting off a special Valentine’s Day menu. It’s certainly not about the gifts, although I guess any of the above can be fun if you make it. Love isn’t always a fairy tale. Relationships are complex and ever-evolving with ups and downs, but I love them just the same.
Most of all, Valentine’s Day reminds me that without Self-Love I have nothing.
Without Self-Love I can’t give to others in my life. I can’t be a good friend, daughter, sister, or wife. Whether you like this holiday or not, you can use it as a time to reflect on the love you give to yourself. If you are anything like me, this is an area that needs constant attention and daily care. My challenge to you is to start a new tradition on Valentine’s Day- write yourself a love letter and read it over often!
(Oh and I lied, it is definitely about the chocolate today. I recommend eating it with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.)
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Oh, and I just wrote about you :o
http://adiventures.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/a-little-self-love-can-be-a-good-thing/
This is such a beautiful and honest post. Thank you for sharing. I can definitely relate from my past too where I have pushed partners away due to my own obsessive issues with my body and food. Thank goodness that is all in the past but I agree it is something you need to put constant attention on (like most things in life to remain balanced and healthy!).
I am running an Emotional Eating program right now and funnily enough, the weekly exercises are called “Self-Love Sheets”. I thought it was fitting and your post just confirms it for me. Thanks Angela :)
SO happy that the two of you are together. Time and maturity solves many things :)
Happy Valentine’s Day Angela!
Reka
This is such a beautiful and honest entry. Thank you for sharing Angela.
This is absolutely beautiful; I can tell it’s a subject you care about because it’s so well written! (Different less upbeat style than your usual, but it really works for you!) I loved getting a small peak into the more personal side of things, love that even though you have now found your glow you’re not afraid to talk about when things weren’t that great and love that Eric seems like such a wonderful guy (You guys really deserve each other – I hope you’ll grow ridiculously old together and when you’re 120 still get to sit in rocking chairs holding hands and adoringly shoot each other wrinkly smiles. Disclaimer: I may have been influenced by watching Up yesterday).
Please know that you really touched someone with this entry. And have a ridiculously wonderful Wedensday :)
Absolutely beautiful ‘truer’ words have never been spoken!
Love your blog. Later, after reading yesterday’s post, I came upon this quote: “The deep love you seek starts and ends with the love you have for YOU!”
-Christine Arylo
Great post, Angela! I love your blog!
it is insane that you post this post on this particular day – a day after fighting with my love – over a comment he made that i interpreted in some obscure way to him calling me fat.
we talked about this post together and i realized that things need to change. not just for us, but for my well being – physically and emotionally.
I am having trouble with self-love right now and it is affecting my relationship with my spouse and that is the LAST thing I want … I was wondering if there is any books you have read that you would recommend?
Angela, this was a wonderful post — so touching. I’ve struggled with disordered eating of all kinds for a long time, and only recently (6 months ago) decided to really turn things around and start loving myself like I should have all along! Yesterday, for Valentine’s Day, I celebrated getting to under 200 pounds for the first time since I was still in high school (over 45 pounds lost!), a result of my new healthy lifestyle. If that’s not a declaration of self-love, I’m not sure what is!
I just wanted to say thank you for you being so honest with us all here. I recently came to terms on my blog with my eating struggles as well, and I know I wouldn’t have been able to talk about it so openly if I hadn’t read your honest posts about your own struggles in the past. You are amazing.
I read this yesterday and it’s been on my mind since then. I’ve been in Eric’s position- my ex-boyfriend had a pretty serious eating disorder (yes, it’s more common than you think) with the full set of body image and confidence problems that come with that. I knew that he felt like you did, and tried my best to get him to see a therapist and get better. He went to a therapist for a little while, but really didn’t WANT to get better at that point, and ended up breaking up with me and moving out of our apartment to “work on himself by himself.” Unfortunately, our story did not have a happy ending; he tried to get back together with me twice that year, claiming he had changed, and it immediately became apparent that he had not and actually did not have the strength or desire to change.
Sorry for the sad story! But I wanted to tell you that congratulations (is that the right word?) for having the strength and the perseverance to work through your troubles and be a better partner for Eric. He’s lucky to have you.
Awesome…like always! You articulated exactly why I don’t feel pressure to rush into a relationship. I need to work on MYSELF first and love myself before I will allow anyone to love me and for me to fully love anyone else. Thank you!!! :) <3
your post brought tears to my eyes — b/c i’ve been where you were — and continue to work to stay out of the self-destruction madness. thank you for sharing a huge piece of yourself with all of us.
You are amazing! I get so excited to wake up and see what new recipe you have posted. I have a similar story as yours but I am recovered as well. I am a junior college pursuing a business marketing major and health science minor and interning at a nutrition and fitness place called tone it up. I love your story and how you balance your life so well. You are such an inspiration to me and so many others! I just wanted to let you know how much you have inspired my in my recovery.
Amazing post, Angela. Thank you for sharing this.
than you so much angie!! I am a 21 yr. old junior at Sam Houston State University (Texas) studying nutrition and struggling with disordered eating. It has affected my life and relationships significantly. The desire to be perfect has pushed me to starve myself for long periods of time, and then occasionally eat to the point of being sick. I’m only 112 lbs at 5’6, but I know that I’m not healthily at a natural weight. I look sick all the time, my energy levels dip and I don’t feel like being social. When I read this post tears rolled down my cheeks, because it’s true what you said about pushing people away and letting low self esteem take over. I too lost the one who is most precious to me because of this behavior. He has done all he can and at this point feels he has to let me go. I miss him very much but know that I have to get well and love myself first, and this post has given me some peace and hope for the future. Thank you for opening up to us like this, we (your readers) love you!!
wow how beautiful and inspirational!
thank you so much :)
i’m finally at a spot where i know i need to work on loving myself, but i honestly don’t know how to do that… where to start?
do you have any ideas on how to go about that?
This is absolutely one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. You are so amazing. Reading your blog continues to give me hope and lets me see the light at the end of the tunnel through all my current struggles. Although I don’t know you personally, through your blog you have been a miraculous friend. Your posts give me the strength and encouragement I need to keep fighting when I am overcome with despair. I thank you more than words could ever explain.