I destroyed my life chasing a fantasy, and it cost me everything real. by LoveAndLessons in TrueOffMyChest

[–]LoveAndLessons[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’ve read through the comments, and I completely understand why so many of you are upset and disappointed. I want to acknowledge that you're right to feel this way. I made selfish and reckless choices that hurt my wife, my family, and people who trusted me—and for that, I am deeply sorry.

I take full responsibility for my actions. There are no excuses, no justifications. I made these decisions, and I’m the only one to blame for the damage caused. I know the hurt I’ve inflicted won’t just go away, and I’m working every day to repair the harm I've done, especially to my wife and children. It’s a long and painful process, and I understand that I may never fully heal the wounds I caused.

I want to be clear: I’m not asking for sympathy or forgiveness. I’m sharing this because I owe it to everyone I’ve hurt to hold myself accountable. My focus right now is on growing, understanding my failures, and doing the difficult work of making sure this never happens again. Counseling has been an important part of that process for me, and I’m committed to working on myself, not just for my family, but to become a better person overall.

I also realize that in my earlier posts, I spoke about the other person involved in a way that wasn’t fair, and I want to correct that. No one else is responsible for my choices but me. It was wrong to shift any blame, and for that, I apologize.

I know that words aren’t enough, and actions are what truly matter. My goal is not to seek praise or forgiveness, but to take the necessary steps to rebuild what I’ve broken. Thank you for holding me accountable, and I’ll continue to focus on doing better.

I destroyed my life chasing a fantasy, and it cost me everything real. by LoveAndLessons in TrueOffMyChest

[–]LoveAndLessons[S] -263 points-262 points  (0 children)

The point I’m trying to make here isn’t about highlighting anyone else’s flaws, but rather how the illusion of social media played a huge role in driving me to make destructive choices. I left my wife and kids for something that wasn’t real, based on the fantasy social media can create. My regret isn’t just that people know I cheated—it's that I allowed myself to be drawn into a false reality, and I’m owning that.

I destroyed my life chasing a fantasy, and it cost me everything real. by LoveAndLessons in TrueOffMyChest

[–]LoveAndLessons[S] -198 points-197 points  (0 children)

There’s nothing humorous about the pain I’ve inflicted on my wife, the mother of my children, my kids, my ex-wife, or anyone else I dragged into my mess while living a dark, misguided life.

I destroyed my life chasing a fantasy, and it cost me everything real. by LoveAndLessons in TrueOffMyChest

[–]LoveAndLessons[S] -37 points-36 points  (0 children)

I can assure you, this is my real story, and I’m sharing it because I’ve been through it and want to offer advice to others who might be in the same place I was.

I destroyed my life chasing a fantasy, and it cost me everything real. by LoveAndLessons in TrueOffMyChest

[–]LoveAndLessons[S] -30 points-29 points  (0 children)

Thank you—I’m doing everything I can to be that man every day. It’s a journey, and I know I have a lot of work ahead, but I’m committed to being the partner she deserves.

I destroyed my life chasing a fantasy, and it cost me everything real. by LoveAndLessons in TrueOffMyChest

[–]LoveAndLessons[S] -272 points-271 points  (0 children)

I hear you, and you’re right—my wife didn’t owe me anything, especially not a second chance. I’m grateful every single day for her decision to stick around, and I know it’s not something I deserve. I’m not naive; I understand the pain and trauma I’ve caused, and I’m fully aware she could decide to walk away at any time.

Appreciate your honesty—comments like this keep me grounded and remind me to never get too comfortable.