Reality star Kim Kardashian recently had a near-miss with the most uncomfortable of dating situations. As she was happily enjoying Miami with her current squeeze, she almost ran into her ex and his pregnant girlfriend. Egads! Perish the thought. Of course, if the chance meetup would have occurred, Kim seems like she'd be all set. Her outfit had been probably arranged by chic stylists and the man on her arm was multi-platinum recording artist Kanye West.
What! You don't have custom designer duds or a bad boy rapper boyfriend to make the ex jealous? Okay, so what's a proud girl next door to do in a similar situation?
After all, if you haven't already encountered this dilemma chances are that you will. Most people tend to move in the same circles, shop at the same places and eat at the same hot spots no matter who they're with. The perfect situation for running into said ex would be when you just stepped out of a salon and look rather smoking. Life being what it is, you could just as easily be crawling out of a gym.
Here's how to be ready in any scenario if you run into a dreaded ex.
1. Don't panic.
Panic smacks of desperation and desperation is always obvious. If you spot an ex, take a deep breath and center yourself. If the breakup is fresh and unresolved, it's perfectly fine to turn around and go the other way. There's no manual that says you have to be BFFs with someone who may have betrayed you or raked you over the coals. Reunions are not mandatory.
Either way, taking a deep breath will help you to center yourself so that whatever you do you're not in an anxious fight or flight mode. Remember, you're in control of you, chica. No one can take that away from you.
2. Keep it short.
If the ex approaches you or you approach him, be cordial. A street corner or mall is not the place to rehash your failed relationship. You may want to ask how he or she has been and ask about any relevant family members. After that, it's time to move on. If it's a "we should have lunch and catch up" vibe, that's cool too. Otherwise, keep the conversation brief so that you can analyze how you really feel without your past standing right in front of you.
3. Introduce yourself to his partner.
In Kim K's situation, the former love of her life was with his pregnant girlfriend. Yes, this is awkward and it's okay to acknowledge that. Put out your hand and introduce yourself. If you're with someone, introduce them as well. Be gracious; not because you're a robot with no feelings but because taking the high road always rocks. Trust your personal love coach, you'll regret the whole uncomfortable exchange much less later.
Wishing you less exes and more ohs!
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