It's Not You, It's Me: A Cliche Because It's True

It's the excuse to break up that everyone knows and everyone despises because it seems like the biggest cop-out: 'It's not you, it's me'. You aren't telling the other person what they did wrong, how they could have made it better, or what you're really feeling. Sometimes it genuinely is the reason that your relationship failed and we, the dumpees, just need to accept it. It's not us, it's them....

Feelings Faded

There was a point when you couldn't watch them bend over without imagining the two of you doing it. Now they could wipe crumbs off your crotch and you wouldn't even get a twitch in your southern regions. It's not them because they both look and act the same, your feelings have faded. You're just not turned on by them anymore.

You Know You Don't Fit

There are things about you that doesn't match with the things that they like. You're too different. Opposites might attract, but do they always work out? You know you aren't the one for them and they aren't the one for you. You can't be everyone's perfect fit.

You Don't Have Time

It might be a selfish notion, but sometimes your life and commitments with college or work mean more to you than your boy/girlfriend. It's not fair that you constantly feel like you have to choose between your your relationship and your life. They deserve to be someone's first choice, not solely your second.

You Like Staying In, They Like Heading Out

If you're more of an introvert, them trying to drag you out all the time is going to be frustrating for both of you. And when you're out, you know that you'll be awkward and uncomfortable. If you're more of an extrovert, then you're going to get frustrated that your significant other can't get out of their shell. You just aren't the one for them, face it.

You Don't Want A Relationship Right Now

You don't want to be with anyone. That's a 'me' issue not a 'you' issue. People sometimes just use this line to get out of a relationship. But it's not always just a line, a lot of the time, it’s the truth. Often, people wish they could continue their romantic relationship, but something is holding them back. We need to accept this. We also need to come up with another way to say, 'It’s not you, it’s me' because if you say that when you're breaking up with someone, you know you're about to get slapped.


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Orlaith is a Creative Writing graduate from NUI Galway. Hailing from the low lying fields of Athenry, or at least what’s left of the low lying fields. She enjoys the internet as a means of living vicariously through others from the safe confines of her own bed. She will initiate a dance off after at least two drinks on any given night out.