Hello to All:
<p>When I read your words, it is listening to my own thoughts. GBM, I could especially relate to yours.
<p>I won't go into the long sad story here, because you all have been there, but if there is a solution to this, maybe we will hit on it.
<p>I too, live with a 'roommate'. I love him, but I'm not in love w/him. It is very difficult understanding a selfish person. I seek to understand him, but I need to be understood also. He says that his "autonomy" is very important to him now. I can respect that, and can understand it. However, in our case it is a love buster. It seems to me that maintaining autonomy in a trouble marriage by one partner could really be fear of confronting pertinent issues.
<p>I wont't last long as a roommate. Reason being, if I were choosing a roommate, it wouldn't be him. He may feel the same about me, and if he would just open up, this is probably the central issue of our distant feelings.
<p>Guys, any hope I can get him to open up and confront those issues which are very important to ME? Like honesty about feelings, and just plain having a decent, flowing conversation?
<p>It sounds sad, but looking from the outside in, it seems like he is staying here because he doesn't have anywhere else to go. Could someone really be that selfish, that they could manage to hold everything inside, lie to themselves and their spouse about their feelings, just because they are afraid to leave? I read another post from a concerned H who echoed these fears; where will the money come from, etc. My answer to that is, if Spirit (God) intends for the relationship to end, for the better of both parties, a means will be provided.
<p>In my case, it seems that I am not learning the lesson that is before my eyes. So, I wonder is it for me to learn or him? I used to be a 'fixer' and finally saw the light on that, you can become totally drained trying to 'fix' a situation from only one side. So now I am left with, either continue to stick around while H draws tighter and tighter within himself, leave or continue hoping that somehow I will find the answer.
<p>All this doesn't sound very healthy does it??
<p>Thanks for listening, Jeri
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