OPINION | Can you remain friends with an ex?

If the relationship has ended, things you had with your ex have been cut too. There is no such thing as being friends with them because it is like creating your own storm even under clear skies. You are only brewing a conflict for your next relationship, even though you have already moved on.

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One of the hardest things someone can experience is being a lover who turns into a stranger again. As you meet countless souls, you get caught in a loop of falling in love and finding out eventually that they are not the endgame… at least, not yet. So as long as they are not the one meant for you, you cannot force the love to be there.

Former romantic partners are often referred to as “ex”. On the other hand, when we talk about platonic relationships, we just call them “friends”. They are people in your life with whom you confide with, share things through ups and downs, and who support you and all your flaws. These have special boundaries that must be distinguished at all times. Different labels that are always clear and have been thought through thoroughly to avoid issues and influence decisions.

Once a string breaks, it means it has endured enough. Every time you sew a piece of cloth, you will just get enough thread and then cut it, preserving it for next use. The scenario is the same as being friends with an ex. If the relationship has ended, things you had with your ex have been cut too. There is no such thing as being friends with them because it is like creating your own storm even under clear skies. You are only brewing a conflict for your next relationship, even though you have already moved on. Better to let memories stay behind in peace.

Friends are not just people you can hang out with. They can be your siblings, your allies, and your home without any sexual or romantic feelings. Reasonably, being friends with your ex already breaks the essence and meaning of friendship. The thought of what you shared romantically together will always be there - like a plague.

As per Vice Ganda, "Being friends with your ex means either you are still in love, or you didn't love them at all."

It is torture for your own peace of mind to stay in the same circle with your ex, and it is suspicious to reconnect with your ex again. How can you be so close to someone who caused your heartbreak? Either you are still hoping that everything will have a restart as you are still in love, or, on the contrary, you never loved them as much as you have thought.