Justin and HillFolk, We all have been hurt and I don't think anyone has the sure fix for healing.
But I do know that helping others will help YOU.
And depression I have never been treated for but have felt very
down and out before. But some people do need to see a doctor if
they are feeling to down to long.
And look at friends as friends, not dates.
Then JUST have some small dates and look at them as just easy and kicked back times, not looking for love, just fun and happy.. That worked for me.
Good luck guys and if you ever need a friend, just email me..

Friendship is definately where it is at for me. I have some great friends at work and away from work. Fun and happy really works.

you are very approachable by the way you form your thoughts. I appreciate the offer and will keep it in mind during those "rough" days. hah, and I am medicated now. ;) thanks buddy, take care.

Figured I might as well give my $0.02 on this...

I think we all can relate to this at one point or another. I've traveled down this road too a few months ago. I was with a girl for nearly 4 years and I thought she was "the one". We'd even gone as far as to start talking about taking that next step. The only real problem was she was in Michigan and I was in Connecticut, but we figured we'd overcome that by some way or manner. I had given a ton of thought to picking up and moving out there, but what kinda soured me on it (and forgive me anyone from MI) was the job market. I couldn't land anything that even appealed to me to build a future on. I figured, if I was going to take the ultimate step, I wanted a job I could build a future off of and be able to raise a family on. What really bugged me more than anything was the fact that I could get a job like that back home and the job my S/O was at was pretty much in need here (pharmacy tech..and I live near a LOT of assisted living/senior housing).

That was the big thing right there and things deteriorated pretty quickly to the point that every e-mail, phone conversation, and IM chat turned into a full-scale brawl and shouting match. I wanted to keep it civil instead of it turning into a sniping match between her friends and my friends with us caught in the middle. Unfortunately, her friends didn't get that memo and it spiraled out of control to the point (even her stepmom got into it and sent me a particularly nasty e-mail). At that point, I moved on and just cut all ties with everyone I knew out there, including her.

Was it tough? Yeah...nothing in life is very easy, especially saying goodbye to someone you spent a good amount of your time with.

That sounds tough, JWH.

It really just comes down to choices and sacrifices. Maybe some of it is fear too. Leaving family, friends and your hometown is not that easy for a woman. What you talk about is really practical and you made good points regarding the job stuff, but women are more emotion-based. Oy vey! That's another thread for another day.

I'm always sad when relationships don't work out, but as long as you are ok with your choices you've made, then that's all that really matters.

wow reading in this thread has really helped me realize that i am not the only one that has been hurt in the past and that i can over come it. I agree with bayareagal and what she stated to jwh. It is a tough but if u take life 1 day at a time it will get better.