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Should the Reformed 'Wild Woman' Tell Her Secret?

Untangling a dating quandary

By Steve Dick and Lynelle Miller Updated: Sep 24, 2009
Steve Dick and Lynelle Miller
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Dear Steve and Lynelle, I used to be somewhat of a wild woman. I went through a two-year phase of partying, drinking, and irresponsibility. At the end of last year, I really turned my life around. Now I have a steady job and stopped drinking and I have my best friend to thank for it.
 
Because she told me she didn't want to speak with me anymore, I realized how much I was not only hurting myself but the people around me. Since I've straightened up, my friend and I have reconnected, but I'm afraid my past is coming back to ruin things again.My friend asked me to meet her at a restaurant so she could introduce me to her new boyfriend, who she has just raved about. She's even said she thinks he's "the one." When I walked in, I realized he was someone I had slept with during my partying phase. This didn't just happen once, but over quite a bit of time. He was kind of my weekend hookup.I was shocked. He introduced himself as if he had never met me. When my friend went to the bathroom,
“he begged me not to tell my friend what had happened between us”
he begged me not to tell my friend what had happened between us. I didn't that night, but now I'm wondering if I should. I feel horrible. What if they get married? He really meant nothing to me and still doesn't, but I feel like I should say something. I'm afraid she might find out because people saw us together, and we have pictures of us partying.
 
I would rather her hear it from me, but I don't want to ruin anything for her -- again. Should I tell her that I've slept with her boyfriend in the past or just keep my mouth shut?
Steve: Ah, the stuff of TV movies. How many times have I seen, heard or witnessed some version of this scenario? Plenty, and I always come back to the same answer: leave it alone, what's past is past.
If you tell her,
“chances are she'll hold it against you”
chances are she'll hold it against you. If you wait and tell her, same thing. If he tells her, same thing, unless she's mature enough to realize that what happened had nothing to do with her then or now. But don't count on it. The fact that she found "the one" after "the one" found you won't sit well with a friend who disapproved of your bed-hopping.
When she quit talking to you, she was being judgmental, which means a low level of understanding and tolerance. After all, what effect did your actions have on her? It sounds like you only reconnected after you did what she wanted you to do.
You're a different woman now. I see no reason to tell her. If she finds out and holds it against you, she wasn't much of a friend anyway.
Lynelle: Oh, I so do NOT agree with Steve. I definitely think you should tell your friend. What's a relationship -- any relationship -- unless it's built on honesty and trust?
Yes, your friend will probably be very upset. But I believe
“she will be more upset not hearing it from you”
she will be more upset not hearing it from you. She may very well hold this against you and bring up your past. Just don't let that change the fact that you have made a turnaround in your life, which I commend you for.
Steve's right, the past is the past, but that doesn't mean it still can't affect your life now. You ARE a different woman now -- an honest woman, I presume. So be who you are now and tell the truth. No secrets, no hiding.
When you tell your friend, though, be prepared that she may not want to speak with you for a while -- if ever again. It's harsh, but you are facing the consequences of being a "wild woman." This is a good lesson to always think before you act.
Steve Dick and Lynelle Miller write for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson, Indiana. For more of their advice, go to heraldbulletin.com. Steve and Lynelle are always looking for good questions to answer so pass on your dating disasters and relationship woes to steveandlynelle@heraldbulletin.com.
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I agree with Lynelle. Coming from a female stand point. How many men stick together and share bedroom secrets. Keeping it quiet not only improves their games, but supports this being done to us women. Yeah, you may lose a friend, but she didn&#39;t sound like she was wanting your friendship. Heck, I wouldn&#39;t either. The past can only stay in the past if you leave it there. Guaranteed, you will not be able to keep your mouth shut. Not if you care about her. If you don&#39;t keep your mouth shut then you risk losing her as a friend, but you were her friend. And that you can hold on to. Stick together. Tell her before she makes a big mistake marries this guy, finds out and this little secret, which RUINS her marriage. Which is MORE painful. Especially if children become involved. Your friend deserves a faithful mate. And though it happened in the past, he&#39;s not showing her that he plans on being trustworthy. None the less, what ever you decide, you will live with the weight of it. Good or bad.
A Yahoo! Contributor
I think that everyone has possibly missed the boat in presuming that &quot;the one&quot; had not had a life-changing event himself, and felt that revelation of his past would ruin his future. I wold have said, though, if I were him, that things had changed while asking her not to out him. I do not think that you need to reveal all of your past if it does not reflect who you are now, unless not revealing the past would be harmful to the present relationship. He certainly had nothing to gain in the revelation, nor did anyone else, so I think he should have explained his motives to his old flame, and, in a fair turnabout, he would never talk about their past relationship with his new girlfriend to protect the old girlfriend.
Sheree
HI,I don&#39;t think you should tell your friend what if their relationship doesn&#39;t work and you lose your friend behind something that happen in the past. Wait a while and see if their relationship grows then decide.
A Yahoo! Contributor
Absolutely not. I agree with Steve on this. These two individuals need to take this information TO THEIR GRAVES! What happened between &quot;Wild Woman&quot; and &quot;New Guy&quot; is in the past and NEEDS to stay there. That thing they had has nothing to do with Wild Woman&#39;s friend... it happened before New Guy knew her. There&#39;s no point in confessing. What will it help? Nothing. Oh, it might relieve Wild Woman&#39;s conscience a little, but I guarantee she&#39;ll lose her best friend again for sure and that would be worse and as far as New Guy... he&#39;ll be no more. With this confession, everyone loses, everyone gets hurt indefinitely. Take it from someone who&#39;s been there, done that.
A Yahoo! Contributor
I was in a situation such as this, and I felt that because my friend and I were indeed best friends, that I should tell her what went on between myself and her new guy. Well, that was indeed a bad idea! She stopped talking to me, they got married, then divorced, because he was not the &quot;one&quot;. So, had I kept my secret, a secret, I would still have my friend. Everyone has skeletons in their closet, sometimes it&#39;s best to leave them where they lay!
A Yahoo! Contributor
NO NO NO... I so do NOT agree with Lynelle. Do NOT tell your friend... if you do, that will only cause pain in her life, and possibly his. Do not make this about YOU. This isn&#39;t about YOU, nor YOUR feelings. This is about how SHE is happy. Basically, it&#39;s not that you want to HELP your friend, but hurt her because she&#39;s getting something YOU have had. How very selfish... just let the two of them be happy. Stay OUT of it.
A Yahoo! Contributor
well, I see it very clearly. Your friend surely is not so naive to think that she&#39;s the first woman in this guy&#39;s life. However, she doesnt want to know the details either, would you?We all have a past, and this is something that belongs to us only. If he doesnt want to share his past with his girlfriend, why should you disclose it? Specially if it was totally unimportant. It would be very selfish of you to ruin a prospective relationship only to appease your conscience. It was only a fling. Does he have to pay for it his whole life? Leave them alone.
Maria
TELL her because the fact that HE PRETENDED not to of known you only reveals his SCANKENESS he is not an honest man for your friend! If you also dont tell her then he reveals it later she will think you were not trustworthy now. Atleast that is what I would think if you were my friend and that we were now on an honest level.I think your friend deserves the truth. She already knows your past and sence is from the past if she is a good friend she will relise you told her this to show your honesty and will be able to decern for herself if he can be trusted.
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i think you should give her a &quot;what if &quot; sinerio and see how she responds to it, than make your decision
A Yahoo! Contributor
Tell her. I don&#39;t know why people insist on denying their past when it is what has made them who they are today. There could not have been any &quot;life changing event&quot; without going through the phase she did. Be open, be honest if you truly care about your friends future. Only by going in with both eyes open and accepting what has happened can she truly have the foundation for a lasting, loving relationship. Deceit and deception are the bane of love.
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