In Love with Two Women

March 16, 2010

Question
I've been in a relationship with a wonderful woman for two years and I love her very much. We're compatible in every way that matters. However, I've recently moved a great distance away due to my job and I will likely be here for the next year or more. We talk on the phone daily and see each other for about one weekend a month.   As part of my job, I am working with a former girlfriend, a complete surprise to both of us. We were together for four years and are also very compatible, so compatible, in fact, that we've never once exchanged hostile words. We split on good terms and only because we were both so busy with school, work and career building that we simply didn't have time for the relationship anymore.   While working together, it has become obvious that we both still have very strong feelings for each other. The more we're together, the more I realize how much I still care for her. We've discussed this and while she feels the same, neither of us are willing to go anywhere with this because of my existing relationship.   To complicate things, the former girlfriend has had some very similar life experiences in the decade since we were together. We've both experienced the sudden death of a spouse followed by financial collapse, abusive relationships, the realization that our career paths were wrong and suddenly switching to a wildly different path, serious medical problems, and a few other things I don't care to mention. She's the only person I've ever met who understands what it's like to go through all of those things (we're both in our 30's).   However, my current girlfriend helped me through the aftermath of a lot of that. She was there to support me through a breakdown and the recoveryDiabetes mellitus is a condition in which the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin or when cells stop responding to the insulin that is produced, so that glucose in the blood cannot be absorbed...(Click for full definition.) from it. She doesn't know what it's like to experience those things, but she is there to encourage me and hold me up when I need it.   So, I'm in love with two women and I have no idea of what to do. I've  weighed the pros and cons on each side and they come out balanced, leaving me in an agonizing position. How should I proceed from here?    How do I go about sorting this out? I'm confused and seriously in need of help as it's starting to affect other aspects of my life because I can't concentrate on anything else.      Signed: Conflicted

Answer
First let me say how much I admire your integrity. It is extremely mature and honorable of you to not act on the strong feelings you have for your former girlfriend. It is also commendable to see the way you are patiently analyzing the situation.   I do not envy you one bit. You are in a very serious bind. It seems to me both women are right for you. You would be happy with either one. I can't recall the name of the French writer who said that each decision is the death of all other options. It would seem to me you are faced with such a death. Ultimately, you are going to have to choose one woman and grieve the loss of the other.   On the one hand, it would be easier for you to choose the woman you are with on a daily basis. That relationship is in front of you, while the other one is a long distance one, which is less fulfilling for obvious reasons. On the other hand, you are deeply attached and indebted to the woman who lives far away.   I suppose you've already considered where you're going to live when this short-term position ends. Will you be able to stay where you are and find ongoing work? Or will you be moving back to where you lived and worked before. If so, then it would be easier for you to continue your life with your current partner, the one who lives back home.   Deciding to stay with your current girlfriend while closing the door on your former is going to be very hard for you. Seeing your former girlfriend every day is going to be a constant temptation. If this is the route you take, you will probably want to limit contact with your former girlfriend, in order to help the intensity of the feelings subside.

I would be interested to hear what you decide. So please let me hear from you again.   

- Doctor Love


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