Increasing in maturity

Sure my stove top analogy was cute but I have come to realize that relationships are not as easy as a kitchen appliance. Perhaps a more accurate metaphor would be to compare my situation to leftovers in the fridge. Right now I need to concentrate my full attention on what is cooking at this moment and put the back burner item in Tupperware in the fridge and shut the door. It won't go bad at the right temperature and it can be re-heated after a period of time if I chose.

It is not fair to the new man in my life to be committed fully to this relationship while I am still keeping live feelings for another man from the past. I want this relationship to progress to wherever it may and I am not just biding my time until the old man in my life returns. I feel good about this decision and hope dearly that it does not come crashing down around me anytime soon.

Yes, a new man in my life

In continuation of my fabulous stove top analogy, I am now allowing a new pot to boil on my stove. He is good friend I met in advertising and we decided to try to date exclusively and so far it is going rather well. This does not mean that I am turning off the back burner necessarily, just trying out a new burner. More updates to come later...

Preface

For those of you who reject cliches and avoid them like the plague this may not be the thing for you to read. For those of you who have no hope in romantic notions or daydreams that might possibly turn into reality, spare yourself the cynisism that reading this will provoke. The facts are these: I am writing a missionary and yes I love him but no we are not even close to being engaged and no I am not "waiting" for him in the sense that I date no one else. I believe it is very possible to put love for someone on a temporary back burner while it is still not quite done cooking yet. It has some ingredients missing and the main ingredient is unavailable for 18 more months. Meanwhile the three other burners are ready to be used and are more than happy to cook something healthy and delicious. Once another burner is in use the pan on the backburner doesn not automatically burn and get ruined. It's still back there on low heat waiting to be dealt with at the appropriate time. I am not an accomplised chef yet I am not prone to burning food and certainly do not intend to burn anything soon...