Questions: Break Up & Divorce

Sometimes, people break up when they will be separated by distance for a long time: they are going to college in different states, one is going into the military, a family is relocating due to the breadwinner's employment, etc. In those cases, if the relationship had been progressing satisfactorily before the separation, I think reunions make sense.

If you break up because of physical or emotional abuse, substance abuse, infidelity, or any other reason that adversely reflects on the quality of the relationship, then reunion does not make sense to me. Of course it is POSSIBLE that people can change their behavior, but experience has shown me that it rarely happens. When you reunite, it is most likely that after the initial excitement subsides, you will encounter the very same problems that you previously experienced. . . and you will probably encounter them much sooner the second time around.

I dated a girl in 1979-1980, and we broke up because she felt guilty about leaving a prior relationship and wanted to return to that partner. Adios! But years later, I found her, rekindled the relationship and eventually married her. Big mistake, but at least I learned something from the experience.

Have you ever reunited with an ex? How did that work out for you?