The Subtle Signs That Spell Relationship Doom

If you have been in a relationship for a serious period of time, i.e. anything over a year, when or if the relationship ends it will usually always be hard. But what if you can see the end coming? Would that make it easier? Probably not, but it’s always good to pre-empt being dumped. Sorry, a nicer way of saying that could be, it’s easier not to feel as if you’ve been dropped like a safe from a great height if you can spot the warning signs coming.

So what are the warning signs that the end is nigh? Well you may not spot them but they will be there, and if you become clued in they’re like a 1980s Magic Eye picture coming into focus. They are right there for you to spot every day. Think of subtle breakup signs as similar to watching a foreign film, the subtitles are right there for you to read.

So let’s start off with some very subtle signs that you can hear every time your partner puts on some music. Clue number 1 – if music be the food of love play on, or off. The music your partner decides to start playing near the end of a relationship is crucial. If you hear repeated playing of the same song, listen, it means something. Any repeated playing of songs with the words independent, survivor and your history should start air horns blaring in your head.

I had an ex who near the end of our three year relationship kept playing Sheryl Crowe’s, All I wanna do is have some fun. When I didn’t get the subtle reference she combined the song with repeated playing of the film Singles. Subtle? Not really but I didn’t catch on. Hey I was young. Another classic breakup song that actually scores a zero on the subtlety scale is by The Beautiful South called I Need a Little Time. An ex of mine actually turned the volume up (we were in different rooms at the time) at key lines and sang along i.e., the freedom that you wanted back is yours for good I hope you’re glad.

Clue number 2 may be a little harder. It requires concentration and focus. It actually involves listening to what your other half is saying to you. At all times. It also involves reading between the lines. You need to pick up on the fact that you really no longer exist for your partner. All talk of future plans will be redundant. Try booking a weekend break for a few weeks in the future, uhuh not gonna’ happen. Your soon to be ex will no longer ask your opinion on anything unless its along the topic of the new apartments just built on the other side of the city or the difficulty rating in getting mail redirected.