Real Advice Needed About Relationship?

I've been dating the same guy for over 6 years. We're not married, but we have live together, have a dog together, own a car together. We are great together. Everyone idealizes us as the perfect happy couple. There's just one issue: I'm not in love with him. I love him because of how he's been there for me, I love him for sticking with me through thick and thin, but I'm not in love with him. So...answer me this: Does real love really exist? Would I be a fool to throw away a perfectly good relationship because I'm not in love? Can I have a good life with him forever, or will it eventually end? Am I a cold heartless .....itch for staying with him for so long? Is life too short to keep this going? Like the question states: I need real advice and would prefer the critics keep it to themselves. I realize that hearts can be broken and someone is going to get seriously hurt. Thanks in advance.Real Advice Needed About Relationship?
It is a tough situation. I have been there... So I know. I was with a girl for 4 years, same as you, lived together, owned stuff together, but I just did not love her. My heart just was not in it.


I used to drive to work every day trying to convince myself that she was good for me, she looked after me and we had a good life. But I just could not keep going on kidding myself. I tried to explain the situation to her and break up. Lets just say that was 5 years ago now and it was very very messy and she still tries to find out what is going on in my life. After all the hassles it was SO worth it. I found a new girl and the moment I first kissed her, I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. We got together in Dec, engaged in Feb, married in April. Yes all happened very fast, but we knew it was just so right. perfect in fact. We now have a child on the way and life does not get any better than this.





So in my case it all worked out perfect. It may not in yours. So you have to make sure that you are doing the right thing, and that is a decision that only you can make.





I am sure you do love him, but not in the ';Lover'; type way, more of the brotherly type love.





If you do decide to break it off. Do it clean, sit him down and tell him your reasons and then end it there and then. Dont linger in his life and keep coming back for sex and other stuff. Move your stuff out as soon as you can and never have contact again. It will hurt like hell, but he will need time to heal.





That is the mistake I made and it made the whole situation very very messy!!





Good luck.Real Advice Needed About Relationship?
honestly if you dont think you are in love with him then it is not fair of you to pretend that you are in love with him, because when he finds out that you are not in love with him he will be crushed. and i dont really think that you love him for being there for you, i just think that you reallly appreciate it. loving some one and appreciating some1 are 2 different things and sometimes they can be difficult to telll the difference between the 2.
okay well, were you ever ';in love'; with him? I'm not being narky its just im a slightly similar but shorter relationship, and i started feeling this way and now... dumbly I'm cheating on him so all I've done is add to my confusion and the amount he is probably going to be hurt by all this.





If you've just lost that happy young love feel, then you guys need to attempt to get that back but set yourself a time limit eg ill give it 6 more months, makea point of making time for each other, try new things go out have fun together, ifyou're still feeling this way then yeah break up.





You can't live your life thinking ';hmm should i be in this relationship?';





It's taken me a while to realise this, and now that I have I just can't bring myself to break it off so I'm looking at ohh another 60ish years of this feeling unless he breaks up with me...





don't do that to yourself or him, be gentle with him though.





good luck its gonna be tough either way :)
Geez when did you figure you weren't in love with him? I mean seriously, did you just figure this now?





True love is possible because I have it.. and so.. you have to make the decision for yourself. If you think you'll be happy with the right support, then maybe you should stay with him, but if you won't be happy unless you have real ';love';, then.. think about it.





However, love isn't passion and fireworks 100% of the time and I hope that's not what you're expecting of ';true love';. Love is perseverance, sacrifice, friendship, loyalty, and a willingness to do what it takes no matter what because.. of.. well, love.