How do you break up without burning bridges?

I've decided that I need to quit seeing someone that I have been for a while. Usually I'm the one to be the recipient of a break up & in each case all of the bridges were burned before the whole thing was over, sometimes also all of the crops, villages, & livestock was too. Guess that's what I get for dating a Hun. But seriously. I want to stay friends. Really, I know thats one of the cliche`lines durig the break up but I really want to this time. I'm not breaking up because I'm mad at the person, we just aren't right for each other.


Am I naive in thinking this is possible? If it is how is it done?

 

Depends on the person. To some people, rejection is a nuclear bomb, and others its just a match. I'm saying it might not be possible to break up without burning the bridge, but if the person is cool and agrees that you should break up, then you could agree to stay friends too, but otherwise the bridge will get destroyed and that person will feel bad every time they see you or think of you.

 

sometimes you can break up with someone you've been seeing and stay friends but it all depends on the person that you breaking up with.
i'm still friends with a fue of my x's and we get along really well like that
so it is possible
let us know how things go
{{{hugs}}}
l

 

I think one thing to keep in mind is that most breakups cause some amount of hurt on one side or the other. Unless the other person totally agrees that you're not right for each other, it's understandable that they'd be a little hurt. I've managed to stay friends with only one of my exes, however now he's one of my best friends. I think the best thing we did in that situation was to keep in mind that, while we both wanted to stay friends, there were a lot of hurt feelings for a while, so we took a break from each other. It was just too hard to try to act like everything was normal, and see each other dating other people etc... But once we kinda took a short break from hanging out all the time, our friendship was better than ever. Just my experience, it may not work in your sitch, but ya never know.

 

sometimes you need to take a step back from things and have a wee break from things, you can still be friends but it will take a bit of time for the dust to settle again..
good luck with it all

 

First ask yourself why you want to remain friends. If it is because of guilt it probably won't turn out well. If it is because you honestly like the person, but not in a relationship way it is possible. It all depends on how the other person feels, and you should expect them to be upset about the breakup and give them the time they need to heal.

I have remained friends with ex's and usually at some point they date a woman that hates me because I am the ex, so I tend to keep my distance. As long as you both understand "just friends" it could work out.

Good luck!

 

See that's my quandry. I could easily get into a hot steamy relationship with him but there are other circumstances that just aren't going to make it work. I know that these are nebulous details sort of but I would have to write a few pages to really explain it all. I see things about each of us that are going to complicate at best & most likely doom a real relationship & I don't want either of us to get hurt more by running blindly to this point of a painful breakup because of the other things.
He is really a great guy so he deserves not to be hurt any more than I do. I think that once I figure out how to talk to him about this he is going to agree that it is best.

Thank you & the others who have posted & all the good luck you are sending my way. HUGS

 

good luck baby girl
{{{hugs and positive thoughts coming your way
l xxx

 

Why do you want to break up with him?

It's usually pretty hard to stay friends, takes a lot of work on both ends.

 

Holy true. Both of U must wish to be stay a friends. Give other person time, sometimes it take 2 weeks, sometimes 2 month and some person won't be U'r friend ever because it lost trust to U. I had 2 ex but we are really good palls not a friends.

 

Breaking up with someone and saying you still want to be friends is like your dog dying and your mom telling you that you can still keep it.

 

you can be friends with people that ya break up with but it depends on the person though and how hurt they are

 

We did some talking & are going to proceed on. Both of us has some issues with where things were & where it may be going but last weekend we talked things over are going to change the relationship but we are still going to see each other for a while. We had a great weekend.

 

Being "just friends" might happen later on, but it won't happen now unless you both agree.