I think I put up with a lot of unacceptable behavior because it happened so infrequently at first that I was able to write it off to other things (stress, full moon, etc...) and by the time it began in earnest, we were living together and I was "committed". And then it became, for me, an issue of honoring said commitment.
I readily admit I was a hopium addict for a while - addicted to the idea of what life could be like if only...spending lots of time fretting about why it wasn't. It took my therapist to one day, very bluntly say to me "Tuffgirl, you are a beautiful and intelligent woman; why would you allow anyone to treat you like this? Do you really think this is the best you can do?" I'll never forget that - it jarred me out of the hopium addiction and into action. I was actually embarrassed by that question - the way it was said - it was a real eye-opener. No, I am not a doormat and yes, I can do better than that.
Hope folks enjoy this blog as I did. Cynical One has some good stuff!