So you have just been giving the “I need space” or “I just need time to find myself” or “I’m sorry it’s over, but we can still be friends” lecture. Now you are left in a quandary; do I consent to these demands or do I disagree. Well I correlate scenarios like this and have entitled it the “Alex Smith”.
Alex Smith is an eight year veteran NFL Quarterback and former number one draft pick. He was the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers for many years, and was having the best season of his career when he got injured. As the weeks went on and his health improved and he was ready to return to his occupation as the starting quarterback, the team decided the position was no longer his and relegated Alex to the backup spot. Alex still wanted to start, he viewed himself as valuable and knew the skill he possessed many other teams would want.
Alex did not view himself as a backup, as someone who would be okay riding the pine hoping to get a opportunity that maybe the team would promote him to his former gig. After the season ended, Alex Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that viewed him as valuable and rewarded him with loyalty and the starting quarterback position.
When someone tells you they need space and time to find themselves, or they try and demote you from a position you once held in their life; it’s up to you whether you want to decompose on the sidelines as a backup hoping for an occasion to get back to that starting position in their life. Or you can view yourself as valuable and go elsewhere like Alex Smith did and be viewed as a priority and not an option.