What I Learned From The Coffee Shop Couple

For those who hang out in coffee shops a lot, you are prone to hear the conversations of others. Read how one blogger overhead the painful demise of of a relationship and what she learned from it.

I had the unique privilege of ~~eavesdropping~~ listening to an uncomfortable conversation in a relationship while I was working at my local coffee shop the other day.

The couple didn’t actually break up right there, but they argued, and they single handedly made me want to apologize to any guy I’ve ever dated. Because I saw the games they were both playing and I recognized myself in some of those scenes.

Yes friends, it was that bad.

Apparently there had been a miscommunication of sorts over text message late one night when there was supposed to be a date. After that miscommunication, there wasn’t much contact via phone conversations, text conversations, or definitely in-person conversations.

They were both angry. She was angry because he was busy with work and couldn’t make their date. He was angry because when he texted her to tell her he couldn’t make it, she was short and curt. And because of that, they didn’t speak for two weeks.

Our time in close proximity at the coffee shop was the day for them to both take time away from work to meet for lunch and discuss their differences.

Lesson number 1: If a miscommunication occurs in a relationship that is important to you, don’t wait two weeks to address it.

The gentleman arrived first and waited patiently. When the woman arrived, she gave him a huge hug and seemed genuinely happy to see him. After they hugged, she said, “You know we need to talk, because that just wasn’t right.”

He appeared a little bit confused but then proceeded to ask what she’d like to order. She very hurriedly said, “I’ve already ordered my food, I need to get it from the counter.”

To which he replied, “I thought we were having lunch together, but okay.”

angry couple

Lesson number 2: When you are sorting out an issue for the good of the relationship, there’s nothing to prove. Especially two weeks later.

The rest of the conversation was rehashing what happened that night two weeks ago. They both stated their sides of the story. Over and over. I sensed they each wanted to be heard and be right and they truly believe the more they said it, the more correct they’d be.

Lesson number 3: A relationship is not a competition for who hurts the worst.

Sadly, the end of the lunch hour hit before they reached a solution to the problem. Both left the shop looking defeated and like they didn’t reach the resolution they would have wanted. I felt for them because lunch time is supposed to be a time of rest during the work day, but I don’t think either returned to their respective offices feeling refreshed.

Lesson number 4: Unless both parties are willing to be vulnerable in a relationship, you won’t move past your issues.

To be perfectly honest, watching that exchange did make me rethink how I’ve communicated with the men that I’ve dated over the years. I’ve refused to be vulnerable, I’ve wanted to focus on my pain while having little regard for his, and I never even thought how a simple misunderstanding can cause so much stress for two people. Thank you coffee shop couple for opening my eyes (and ears) to my own communication style in a relationship.

One book I’ve been reading this summer has been lauded as a must-have for those in relationships. I highly recommend it if you’d like to understand yourself and the work it takes to understanding the one you love better. Check it out here.

How do you communicate in your relationships?

11 thoughts on “What I Learned From The Coffee Shop Couple”

Sometimes it does take looking in from the outside to put things into perspective in your own life, doesn’t it? Hopefully that couple reconciled after they left.

i have learned after 23 years of marriage it is hard work. It takes time. love and patience to get through.

Relationships can be so so difficult. I have learned (in some hard ways and through several lessons over the years) that communication is everything. I hope the couple was able to work everything out! ;/

What a conversation to be having at a coffee shop. It can be so hard to get on the same page for sure!

Relationships are hard work! This is all such great advice – thanks so much for sharing!

I always get sad for couples who don’t make it. My husband and I used to have terrible fights, but we’ve finally learned to talk to each other (thank goodness for our marriage!). It takes trust and listening by both parties to get through the touch conversations.

Ugh what a sad story! It seems like a non-starter trying to resolve something that happened two weeks ago! I hope they work it out – thanks for sharing!

Wow, what a story! Relationships take work. We change over the years and grow as people and sometimes we don’t always grow together.

I love your thoughts on this – both that a relationship is not about who hurts the most, and your thoughts on being vulnerable. So true. This is a great post 🙂

you are so right as it takes two to be able to communicate effectively for things to work. I have been in a relationship that just stopped because of lack of communication but you also can’t fix it all by yourself either.