To ask what good things you've gained from previous relationships?

[BodiesHitTheFloor]

Lighthearted only plz

I've been reflecting recently and realised a lot of things that I consider a part of myself now wouldn't be so it weren't for an ex. For example, my love of hip hop, computer coding, repair and building, playing guitar, knowing a different language - there are more i'm sure but these came to mind instantly. (not all the same guys) What love letters has your soul been left by a love that's long since been burned out?

A bottle of perfume that I’ve eked out for decades, a love of Sidney Bechet, the first flicker of self-belief (he saw me as no-one else ever did before -or since!). Some wisdom - no big decision need ever be made immediately, and that when people are being difficult 9/10 times it’s nothing much to do with me. The knowledge that my childhood was abusive(sorry, not terribly light hearted, but he deserves the credit as it was a pivotal moment in my life) and a pile of books wot I sadly didn’t get around to returning when we broke up 😜

My first real love, showed me music and how it heals your soul.

All music! But especially live orchestra! I've taken this forward 20 years on and am thankful

40 years ago my girlfriend at uni taught me to cook. I used to find recipes during the vacations, type them out on a manual typewriter (no computers, internet or mobile phones then!) and send them to her. Kept a copy using carbon paper. I found a file full of these recipes just today, I have such good memories of cooking them together.

Some really lovely answers! I am curious as to what perfume you have now @noooooooo

3 gorgeous children, that's literally it.