Hi!
My boyfriend who I’ve lived for 2 years just told me tonight (out of kindness I suppose) that he looked at engagement rings the other week because he was going to propose but when he went to the shop he said he didn’t feel excited. He said he remembers the ‘negative’ things about me and it made him confused and so didn’t proceed to buying a ring. These ‘bad’ things he said he’s referring to are arguments / instability we had in the first year of dating. Admittedly I had huge anxiety / trauma issues back then due to abusive / poor previous relationships so I was unstable in the first year but I sought therapy and soon learnt my partner was stable and loving.
we both contribute a lot to the relationship.We both provide each other with love, support and care. We are so close. I cook for him all the time, I make his lunch. He has an absolutely passion for food and it makes him happy. I love doing it and I love making his life easier. I show him so love and affection as does he so it was a genuine surprise when he said that he’s not ‘excited’.
I now feel major guilt and beating myself up at the insecure, jealous and maybe ‘crazy’ person I was 6 months into our relationship. Bur he never mentioned to me anything before? He never told me he was concerned for our future from my initial mental health. But then I grew, and I’ve been very healthy since. But maybe I traumatised my boyfriend. I never knew until he said it today. I feel horrific.
he says he loves me so much and wants to stay with me when I suggested maybe I’m not the right person for him if he felt like this. I told him it’s unfair to stay with me if he felt this way but he said he loves me more than anything in the world?
This isn’t a very transparent post right now because but I feel awfully confused, heartbroken. .
I’m really grateful for him letting me know. He wants to hug and cuddle in bed to soothe but I’m downstairs eating my dinner because I’m just a little confused and need time to process
we are 26 so there is no rush for a proposal but I don’t know if I’m ever going to see past the brutal honestly of the fact he didn’t feel excitement because now I’m always going to be wondering.
it goes without saying I wouldn’t want him to propose if he wasn’t ready. No one should do that. But do we wait another 3 years? What if he feels the same way?
I’m so confused and would like some rational thoughts / comments to help guide me!