This post was originally written
October 3, 2007
October 3, 2007
Once upon a time, affairs involved physical intimacy . . . but in a world of 24/7 access to the internet comes the emotional affair . . . an affair that is strictly emotional, an innocent escape and doesn't hurt anyone. Or does it?
I can relate to how it hurts the single woman since I've been there . . . the emotional affair, the long distance relationship . . . whatever you want to call the romantic entanglements I have found myself in online . . . most don't have the opportunity to "go anywhere". The emotional affair/relationship that is strictly an escape . . . if you can perceive it as "an escape."
In my case of finding love online with someone on the other side of midnight was very painful, just like an offline relationship you have in real life, maybe even more painful since I was in a self-imposed prison. They were emotional affairs that prevented me from pursuing other interests as I made myself believe that it could work out and we had a real chance at a future together. Many couples do make long distance relationships work . . . but you have to be realistic. Those relationships should have been treated strictly as escapes and that is it.
In the early days of my exploring the outside world through cyberspace, I would keep my profile "on", making it possible for anyone to do a search and find that I was available to chat online. That was a practice that didn't last long. Most of the knocks on the door were from local married men, bored at work, wanting to find a local woman to chat with and ultimately have a "real" affair with. And the most bizarre were the couples seeking a third party since they were probably sexually bored. I live in Florida . . . you would not believe the number of couples who were lining up a "girl toy" for their Florida vacation. No. thank you . . . .
Back to the single person having an emotional affair . . . a person who is already in a romantic relationship having an emotional affair enjoys the best of both worlds . . . the "single" person gets cheated. Why? They are probably emotionally invested in the relationship and probably don't have the time, energy or interest in seeking out a healthy and whole relationship of their own.
While the comfort and amazing feelings of genuine love from an emotional affair may last for years, that emotional connection will probably lead to the lack of real and lasting love resulting in unhappiness and wasted time.
