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Note to Ex

The other day, I calculated the total amount of time it takes me each week for ballet class. Including travel (which is a lot considering I’m driving in L.A. traffic), it’s about 9 hours. And then, I had this odd thought. If I was forced, right now, to choose between spending time in ballet class or having a romantic relationship, I’d choose ballet. 

Illustration by Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber

Discussion

12 comments for “Note to Ex”

  1. I recently broke up with a girlfriend because I enjoyed going to yoga more than spending time with her. I get this on a cellular level.

  2. Gigi says:

    Well after my August dating experience I realized there are 2 types of people. One group is happy both in and out of relationships and one group can only be happy in one even if it’s toxic.

    I wish we had some kind of public celebration like weddings to celebrate happy independent people 🙂

    • Claire says:

      Interesting points, Gigi. I went to a friend’s wedding Saturday and instead of feeling happy I felt a bit conflicted, watching this wedding and feeling a overwhelmed by the thought of being tied to one person forever. I have a very hard time envisioning the compromise that would require. But then I just listened to an interview with a researcher about how more choice and freedom doesn’t equal more happiness. When he decided to follow his own research he asked his long time girlfriend to marry him and said he’s so happy, in part because he made a final decision about the relationship and he’s happy with his choice. Really made me pause to think about it that way!

      • wendy says:

        Fascinating story, Claire. For me, it’s hard to evaluate the marriage issue in a vacuum, as opposed to being actually confronted with the reality of having to decide to do it.

    • wendy says:

      Should be held on July 4.

  3. Gigi says:

    Well here you go, National Singles Day September 22nd!

  4. Petra says:

    I love spending time alone, with my books, my cookware, my writing, my thoughts. Second best is spending time with my close girlfriends. But I need alone time–lots of it.

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