Are you grateful for your ex?

[Anonymous]

I was listening to "Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande on the radio the other day, and unlike a lot of break-up songs where the singer tells you how crappy their ex was or why they broke up and so forth, she proceeds to thank hers for the lessons they taught her whilst proclaiming she's ready to move on.

Now if your ex was punching you in the face, and doing hardcore drugs, and robbing you blind---no one needs to be "thankful" for that. I'm not talking about abusive ultra toxic stuff, but have you ever been thankful or grateful for your ex? Like maybe you were the problem, but because of that relationship, you were able to grow as a person and be better for your next relationship or maybe your ex taught you something valuable about how you deserve to be treated so you were able to avoid someone you would have settled for otherwise.

Are you thankful or grateful for your ex?

[Telekinetic-Potato]

Yea, there's one in particular who really forced me to grow as a man. Unfortunately for all the wrong reasons but my self image became unshakable after.

As painful as it was to watch her ruin her life from a distance, I watched her turn everything around pretty much following what she learned from me and years later it was acknowledged.

And the whole thing made me realize that I could have kept beating myself all that time and self hating and thinking I had no value because things didn't work out or that I was delusional for trusting myself. Yet there she was, smiling in my face excited to tell me how she wouldn't be alive right now without the things I gave her.

It's like nothing you do is ever really a waste if you put your heart into it.

[AviatorTom]

My ex-wife and I were married for 20+ years before an amicable divorce. The majority of those years were good, and we raised 3 children who make us very proud.

I am very thankful of my ex-wife. She out up with me while being a good mother to our kids.

Of course I am grateful for her.

[Noredcarpet]

I am not grateful for the ex I had that treated me badly and confused me a lot of times, but I am grateful and have no regrets of the one I dated after we split. He was kind, had a big heart, and made me believe in love again. One time my eyes were filled with tears all of a sudden because he made a nice unselfish gesture as a gentleman without thinking about it, it was so part of his nature. I had seen my ex be so mean and give so little. I was afraid my ex would go after him so I wanted to keep a low profile why I say dated and not us being a couple back then.

[Breanna_nonbinary]

I am grateful for my exes. However I chose my partner wisely. None of them were the type to be quick to anger, or abusive. I knew beforehand that should a breakup happen it would be amicable. In addition they were wonderful people with kind hearts. It just didn’t happen to work out. I learned many things from them and consider the time we spent as a blessing and a learning experience. 🥰

[DishLady]

I’m not president of his fan club obvi, but I guess I learned some stuff along the way. Brutal reality check and tossing out of the rose-colored glasses.

[Tarifa]

I'm grateful for every girl I had a relationship with, even if some of those were shortlived. I'm grateful for every girl who crossed my path and whom I had a crush on, even if it was like banging my head against the wall.

You can learn something from every situation in life.

[Bitter_Sweet94]

Yes, I am.

Not because everything was good, but because it made me grow.

Every heartbreak strips away a version of you that no longer fits who you’re meant to become.

Some people come to love you, others come to teach you and sometimes, they do both.

So yes, I’m grateful, not for how it ended, but for who I became after it did.

[DavyJ]

We’ve recently divorced after 35 years; but I don’t hate my ex-wife or bear any Ill grudges towards her. She got me through some really difficult periods and stood by my when times were not great; and I the fact we can and have remained civil is testament to the fact.

[LiamJHayden]

I am grateful for any lady who even goes on a date with me. The only ex with whom I did not really have a perfect parting was the one who was 17 years older and allowed her family and friends get to her with the "Robbing the cradle." nonsense. It was pretty much perfect till it wasn't. But even for that I am thankful.

[the-falcon]

I am. It was a painful split and a shock from nowhere or so I thought. But it caused me to do a lot of reflection and getting to see the reality of relationships. I hadn't set boundaries amongst other things and the respect ebbed away over a long while. Now, I am on a much better path that wouldn't have been possible were it not for the pain. So yah, I am grateful to her as it would never have worked.

[LisaMariexoxo]

I'm grateful for all of my ex's (and still friends with all of them) each one thought me something different and helped me become the person I am today

[FreyaRed]

No. I used they used me. These deals weren't beneficial for my anymore and I went different directions. People intrunmentalize me so I pay back them same favor.

[MannMitAntworten]

In the context of learning how to spot/avoid certain character traits for next time, then I suppose to some degree, yes. Still, it would have been better to not to be exposed in the first place. Just my perspective.

[Unap0logetic_]

Yes because he taught me the most valuable lesson in life, to always put myself first and love myself.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I am, being with him taught me that I was asexual and aromantic like I suspected, despite attempts to prove otherwise

[Anonymous]

“I was listening to “Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande on the radio.”

Sorry you had to go through that.

[slatyb]

My ex-wife? No. My ex-girlfriends? Mostly yes. I still miss a number of them.

[Drumlin2001]

Yes. She helped me navigate a lot. Shame how it ended, but was right to end

[Phoenix98]

Not particularly no at least not my last one.

[Likes2drive]

I learned more from each relationship and because they came from a much different culture than me I also learned new things from them also about that

[Jersey2]

Nope. I just learned what I wanted. They were just who they are.

[Nice222]

Yes I am because I learned what I want and don’t want from a relationship.

[Anonymous]

Of course I'm grateful.
Grateful for the sex
I guess it's long time since I was dumped
Being dumped might feel different

[loveslongnails]

I'm grateful I didn't marry her. LOL

[Asker]

Then you are super grateful!!!!

[loveslongnails]

More than words can ever express !!

[Sal_Monella]

I'm grateful she divorced me.

[curiousjohnnstamoez]

Nope, she left to a lot of trauma in my life.

[Asker]

Maybe that's at least in some part, part of the lesson you know now, to avoid women like her at all costs.

[guesswhereivebeen]

Grateful she’s an ex fir sure

[noohair]

For the divorce...

[wkhan_87]

Yes , she was a helpful person

[nik_the_cur]

She helped in being the man I am now

[Anonymous]

I don't have an ex.

[Jmmmfi4]

Hell no

[Anonymous]

No..