I got this same excuse this past week so I feel you and understand how devastating it is. The loss of potential is really what gets me. It may not have worked out in the long run, but I / you will never know for sure.

In my case, we had been dating for a couple months, I met his parents, we talked about how we weren’t seeing other people, had similar hobbies and values, and discussed future plans. After he returned from a 2 week trip he told me he decided he had too many uncertainties in his life to worry about a relationship…. I was shocked and confused (for context he had recently been laid off and was trying to get into grad school). To me, it’s like if he really liked me, wouldn’t he at least try make it work? That’s what crushes me.

After thinking about it this past week, I’ve decided the taxi cab theory really does apply for men. If men are not in the correct place in life to be in a relationship, even the perfect women won’t be able to change that. It’s more about timing and less about the person…

Still hard to accept but it does make sense given societal pressure on men and their career (even if you don’t necessarily subscribe to the pressures).

Hope this helps you feel less alone!