The FB Diaries: A Guide for F@#%ers, Part 1

BreakUpService.com is happy and proud to introduce a new series of articles from one of our readers. We’ll let it speak for itself, but first some background:

Dear BreakUpService.com,

I am a huge fan of your site! Not long ago, when I was going through an extremely difficult breakup, a friend of mine recommended I check you guys out. I said I didn’t need a service to break up for me (as you were previously known for). What I really needed was a community, a place where I could find out more about this process that we all go through. Your articles, insight - and sensitivity - all resonated with me, and so I’m a fan. BUT…I felt that something was lacking in the female perspective, and I felt that some of what I’ve gone through recently might be of interest to your readership, both male AND female. I propose a series of articles, a column if you will, called The F@#% Buddy Diaries…

Needless to say, we bit, and here is the first installment of:

The FB Diaries: A Guide for F@#%ers

By Anonymous

Part One: The Early Stages

…In which we explore knowing what you need, knowing what you want, and more.
Knowing What You Need

When my FB experiences began in earnest, I was at a crossroads. At the time, however, I felt like I was at a dead end. I simply wasn’t interested in the people around me and I was particularly bored with myself. I wanted to make a change but had no energy or interest in thinking about myself long enough to know what to do. I had had a handful of relationships - good relationships - that had ended for all the right reasons. I had a job that needed to end for all the right reasons. And I was living in a place that I needed to not live anymore for all the right reasons. I was down - perpetually irritated with who I was, where I was and why I needed a change - for all the right reasons.

How could I shake this and move on already? I’d tried drinking, smoking pot, taking long walks on the beach. I’d tried reaching out to old friends, hooking up with old boyfriends and going to the gym. This got me drunk, stoned, sad and a large phone bill. It all made me loathe myself more, encouraged further self-deprecation and worse, opened the flood gates on baggage with old boyfriends whose chapters had closed for very good reasons. “What’s a girl gotta do to get laid around here?”

Then…it…clicked. I would f@#% myself out of this funk.

I went to the gym to kick the crap out of a bag and think over my unhealthy decision (to go bang a stranger); that immediately made me feel better…healthier. I focused all of my attention on meeting this one basic need. I would find myself a f@#% buddy.

Initially I thought that this act alone (f@#%ing) would help clear my head. What I found, however, was the delicate balancing act, equal parts f@#%ing and buddy - that really helped pull me out of the gutter. I decided to keep a journal of my findings to help lead others to the light! And that’s when it began:

F@#% Buddy: The Art of 2:00AM.

Knowing What You Want

The right f@#% buddy for you is someone who only meets the bare-bones physical and social criteria -the opposite of everything (you remember) having slept with. Personality is key here. As a general rule, it should be someone who in any other circumstances with whom you would have nothing to talk about or their every word would drive you crazy. I would steer clear of people who you think are stupid. If you find yourself having an argument with someone you think has potential as an FB - you’ve just blown your chances. Here’s a simple how-to checklist to guide your selection process.

As a general rule, make a short mental list of physical traits that make you gag. This is probably something you’ve never done before so practice by writing down an idea followed by “makes me gag.” If you don’t shiver when you think it - find something else. Here’s an example of my list:

1. Men who shave their pubic hair make me gag. I just imagine them looking at their wieners for a whole hour, clipping and buzzing and trimming and shaving - and it makes me gag. Men who do this have a look about them - even with their clothes on - make me gag. I slept with one of these wieners by accident and I literally gagged when I saw it.
2. Men who are super muscular make me gag. They’re always trying to pump their muscles up so they walk weird - like they have something up their butt. And they almost always have small wieners. Gag. Oh and they shave their chests. See number 1.
3. Men with long hair pulled back into pony tails with a bald receding hairline make me gag. Just cut your hair off! Again, I imagine long periods of grooming time - a visual of a man “brushing his long hair” makes me gag.

See - so there’s lots of men who don’t fall into my gag category. If you have more than 3 things that make you gag - you might be too angry for a f@#% buddy. Revisit this concept in three months. When you’re sober.

Next, make a list of social characteristics that absolutely drive you mad. Here’s an example of my list:

1. People who TELL you they are: “good listeners” or “deep.” These people drive me mad - they’re never good listeners, and never, ever, ever deep. These are generally really stupid people who drive me mad.
2. The “jokester” with the “knock-knocks.” These are not funny. If you tell me a knock-knock joke, I will hate you. Forever.
3. The “artist.” Now there was a day that I was really into this, but man oh man am I done with the artist! I don’t even want to hear that you paint as a hobby. I wouldn’t have a one-night stand with the artist. This is how over the artist I am. I have been driven to madness.

Now my list and your list are going to be different. If you’re a fully shaved self-proclaimed artist who tells knock-knocks you may be just fine for someone. My point is that you have to be honest with yourself about the bare-bones. These are deal breakers. Generally speaking, to find a f@#% buddy you have to be far more flexible than in finding a partner, so knowing what you absolutely cannot deal with is the only thing that matters.

Now let’s talk briefly about that “perfect person.” The guiding criteria one must meet to truly capture your attention. This is a person you would date; a person you could bring home to meet the parents. Keep your list to ten. My “perfect person” would be:

1. Witty
2. Good looking but doesn’t act good looking
3. Articulate
4. Responsible
5. Grounded
6. Funny
7. Sharp/Quick
8. Employed
9. Educated
10. Thoughtful

Your f@#% buddy should not meet any of these criteria or at maximum, up to 2 criteria. They should not drive you mad. They should not make you gag.

Do you see how easy this is going to be!

Here is a description of my f@#% buddy:

He’s sarcastic. Kind of mean. Many would call him a dick. I’d call him a jerk. To walk past him is a chore. He’s not too talky, just has an attitude, an air. He’s not arrogant - but one definitely smells a tinge of insecurity; he’s self-righteous.

My FB was someone I had seen many, many times before but on that cold fall day, I recognized his potential. Are you ready for this?

It was the smart-ass towel-boy at the gym. The desk guy handling all those important phone calls. The do-as-little-as-possible-guy. He’s smart but a bit of rebel. He had a kind of cackle I was into - not too cool. He’s definitely hot, but I would never, ever let anyone know I thought so. And he’s not a meathead-douche-bag. He works at the gym but he doesn’t appear to work out at the gym. As you can see from my “gag” list, this was good for me. And I definitely got the vibe he had all of his hair but that he wasn’t a “hairy guy.” I am a social person. What made this guy so perfect was that most people really didn’t like him. I joined along - agreeing with what an ass he was in public. No one would ever suspect in a million years that I would be keeping a journal about him…

Most importantly he is NO ONE I WOULD EVER DATE! This impossibility is what makes the f@#% buddy possible. If it is not entirely inconceivable that you would ever “be” with this person, you have got to keep looking…

Stay tuned for the next installment of the The FB Diaries, in which our author deals with who should have a ff@#% buddy…and how to make a plan of action.

Anger is a good thing…

Our belief is that depression can be cured.  There are many pathways to do so, but none are as powerful as the human spirit.  People think anger is a bad thing.  Here at BreakUpService we totally and completely disagree.  Anger can be a powerful motivator.  Use your anger, focus all the energy that anger brings and use it to get off your couch.  During hard times, trust in your friends, your family and yourself.

Depression is a real part of life.  It often creeps up during a break up.  We believe the most important step to recover from lost love is a stage we call “ESCAPE”.  The only way to gain perspective of what happened and what will happen is to leave. You can do this mentally or physically.  Whatever path you choose, always remember that depression is a sign that you are not fighting hard enough.  Push the envelope. No one is helpless.  Read the article below to find out more…

  “I recovered in a single moment from a previously untreatable clinical depression. The following is the story of how I came to this cure–this new understanding of the causes of my clinical depression…”

READ MORE…

Escape to another country. You’ll feel better…

Think life is all about relationships between people in love?  Well it’s not!  There is love between family members and friends.  These are people that we count on to help us through breakups and tough times.  There are people all around us with plenty of love to give.  So many people make the mistake of focusing on lost love rather than focusing on current love.  Look around, you’ll find so many people around you that are ready to take care of you in a moment of crisis.  Get over yourself and realize that change is the healthiest and most exiting part of life.  Breaking up is change.  Maybe you did not volunteer for that change, sure, but few of us do.  That is why friendship is so great.  We, for the most part, spontaneously create friendships.  Sometimes it feels like destiny had a hand in it.  We’ve had the greatest feedback on the, “Road to Home”. It’s a book that can get you through the rough stuff.  Change your perspective by walking in another’s shoes. Live, love, eat and read a book…

“Del Fabbro’s debut novel is a unique look at life in a country undergoing transition. Fascinating and frightening details about struggles with race, poverty, disease and government bring the setting to life…”

READ MORE…

Escape - read a book or two…

As you may know, it is our theory that escaping is one of the steps in getting over a break up or a broken heart.  The reason is simple.  When you get away and reflect on what has just happened, you gain perspective on how perfectly natural change is.  Change is inevitable, exciting and totally doable.  During this time of reflection we often recommend traveling, hobbies, music or books.  If you can pull off all of them, good for you. 

In case you’re not in the traveling mood or just don’t have the resources at the moment, why not read a book?  Why not escape in the comfort of your own home? We just read a great book that helps one cope with emotional events that are not as clear as they could be.  Sometimes denial and betrayal go hand in hand.  Everything is Illuminated, is a book that gives you perspective on past events that may be contributing to your current state of anguish.  The book glides on the edges of what we are all thinking and won’t admit.  Joining this journey of discovery and perspectives may help give you insight into what you are really feeling.  You may think you know, but it never hurts to find out what’s going on in that protected region of your mind.  Yes, we are speaking in riddles.  Want to find out what we are talking about?  Read this book! A little reading never killed anybody…

“The most tangible hope in the story’s illumination is Sasha’s decision to face the truth of his father’s abuse and break free. Perhaps that is Foer’s point. He–and all of us–must break free of those people and forces that want to keep us in chains and in the dark…”

READ MORE…