Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved?

[OregonGuy]

When I told the doctor to "pull the plug" on my beloved wife I cried for the only time in my life.
Was my anguish worth the love we had? Hell yes!

Would I risk going through that agony, or rejection, by pursuing future relationships? Yes

 

[MACKTEXAS]

I'm thankful I never had to make a decision like that. Some of the others I had to make were hard enough.

Would I do it again? No.

 

[Bella]

Finding love can be challenging, particularly at our age. My heart is open to falling in love once more. To love and be loved again is worth the risk of another loss.

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

I'm sorry you had to suffer that decision, @OregonGuy. I've never had to make that type of heart-wrenching decision. I have loved and lost many times in various ways. Being long-time, twice divorced from short marriages and 65+, I often ask myself if I would ever want to love and be married again. Because of advanced age, the thought of quickly losing my new spouse to death or swiftly having to spend the rest of our relationship as a carer makes me ambivalent about ever inviting love and marriage into my life again. Though I've had many painful experiences and made poor choices in love, I do feel that it was better that I had those experiences. I just wish they had been more beneficial and enduring.

Do I feel that loving again in old age is better than remaining alone? I'm always unsure about this. I wish I could be unhesitatingly for it because I think it's a good thing.....just not for me.

 

[C50]

I truly miss falling in love and being in love, yet around four years ago I stopped dating. I now fear what a relationship will cost me more than I miss what a relationship will give me.

 

[Pepper]

Just answering OP question:
YES, it is better to have loved and lost than never loved at all. IMO.
As for another romantic relationship?
Fat/Slim chance of that

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

I now fear what a relationship will cost me more than I miss what a relationship will give me.

You said that very well. I could not have worded it better. Yet, I wish I felt differently. I know I must sound stupid and some must wonder, Well, why don't you just change the way that you feel? Why keep feeling one way and saying that you wish you felt another? I don't know.

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

I truly miss falling in love and being in love,

Yes, I think that I like the idea of romantic love rather than the work and changes, especially as a senior.

 

[OregonGuy]

Just answering OP question:
YES, it is better to have loved and lost than never loved at all. IMO.
As for another romantic relationship?
Fat/Slim chance of that

Hope Springs Eternal

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

Hope Springs Eternal

Seems to, all by itself and in secret.

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

Fat/Slim chance of that

Fat & slim! Yes, highly unlikely...

 

[Twostep]

Love is something that grows. I found my Better half when I was not looking. Yes, I think I am prepared but only time will tell. My plan B is very simp!e.

 

[GoodEnuff]

Had I found another love within a few years of my husband's death, it may have worked. I looked but what a mess. Now, after 16 years of solo living, I don't think I could do it.

 

[-Oy-]

I found love at 12 - we're still together.

 

[Gibbon]

When I told the doctor to "pull the plug" on my beloved wife I cried for the only time in my life.
Was my anguish worth the love we had? Hell yes!

Would I risk going through that agony, or rejection, by pursuing future relationships? Yes

When I lost Vickie in February 2023 that was it for me. I had experienced the best 11 years of my life and can't imagine being with anyone else ever again. My mind and heart would be trying to fill what I had lost and could never be fair to someone new.
Christmas Day would have been our 13th year together.

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

I found love at 12 - we're still together.

Wish I had. I always say that if I had made a good match early on, we would still be together and nothing else would matter, habits, old age, personality differences, changes over the years..........we'd both be used to it all and would have adapted. I'm happy for you!

 

[Pepper]

Jimmy Carter knew his wife from the day she was born

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

My mind and heart would be trying to fill what I had lost and could never be fair to someone new.

It's good that you are able to be that honest, for you and for a potential partner. That's what I always strive to do, live authentically, no matter what I or others think I should do or what I think I could force myself to do.

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

Jimmy Carter knew his wife from the day she was born

What is the love story behind this?

 

[Pepper]

What is the love story behind this?

They were neighbors. I will try to Google it for you.

 

[Pepper]

Rosalynn Carter Never Knew Life Without Jimmy — She Met Her Future Husband as a Newborn
@DailyArtsyCrafter

Also, I heard him actually tell it!

 

[chic]

I don't think we were meant to live alone. This is just my belief. So I would love again. I have done and so far it's all good.

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

Rosalynn Carter Never Knew Life Without Jimmy — She Met Her Future Husband as a Newborn
@DailyArtsyCrafter

Also, I heard him actually tell it!

I vaguely remember some story. That's why I didn't scoff at your comment.

 

[Babs2u]

I remember Woody Allen saying something like "I would not want to belong to any club that would have me as a member."
I feel a little like that about romance at this age. Any man who thinks I'm a catch is probably not that smart.

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

I don't think we were meant to live alone.

I don't think so either but plenty of people die that way. Sadly, there are many things in this world that were not meant to be.