Yes, do cut yourself some slack!
I used to tell my ex, "I can see your mouth moving, but all Im hearing is blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.
I know I was wasting my time trying to get him to see why we shouldn't be together.
BTW, there is not a prerequisite to separation/space that states he must like it or understand it.
Geesh, if that were the case, I would still be with my ex.!!