Part of why I'm not bitter about being single right now is because I am looking at it as this huge opportunity to learn more about healthy relating.

My pattern in the past seems to have been one of attempting with each relationship to move from Dependence straight to Interdependence. Where this actually got me was always to Co-dependence. Because Independence is the middle stage, and it cannot actually be skipped over. I was aware of this as an intellectual idea, but ignored it—after all, ideas can be wrong, and it was not explained to me in a way that I could get how or why I should accept that I could not move straight into interdependence. Possibly there was no way to explain it to me that I would be willing to entertain. I have been quite avoidant of certain forms of independence!

Of course now I am seeing how independence is the foundation for interdependence—it's what we fall back on when interdependent relating doesn't get a particular need or desire met.

I once did a series of six Al-anon meetings, and was not impressed with it. I recently considered checking it out again. After recommitting to my boundaries, however, and protecting them, I am feeling pretty good about my ability to take care of my own needs in this area... like the need for healthy, growth-oriented relationships.

Ok, on to the rest of my day... I have an amazing life to live!