Walter1949
Medina, Tennessee USA
Posted: Jan 31, 2007, 1:53 PM CST
Getting over a broken heart is always difficult. You need time to heal, but you also need to get your attention away from the ex and/or relationship.
DON'T rush into dating again. Instead, spend time with friends and family. If you think you're ready for dating after a week or two, maybe you are ... and maybe you really aren't. If you try to get going again too soon, you may end up regretting it.
When you are sure you are ready to date again, force yourself to take things slowly. You may still be on the rebound, and if so you could fool yourself into thinking you've found a wonderful person when he/she isn't all that special at all. As much as possible, try to find men/women who have little or nothing in common with your ex; this will help you get over him/her. Later you can expand your dating options to include people who aren't so very unlike your ex; but check your heart to make certain you are interested in the new person, and not just trying to recapture the magic you felt in the old relationship.
Don't be afraid to date and have fun when you are ready. But be picky when it comes to commitment. Women are better at this than men, I believe; once a man becomes interested enough to want a commitment, he's more likely to charge head-first without looking objectively at what he's getting into. OTOH, men may be a bit slower about getting to the considering-commitment stage. (Not all men, though. I'm living proof of that.)