The relationship you had to have

A friend of mine is ultra-successful, talented, famous and beautiful. The sort of person who is stopped on the street for autographs and earns $1000 an hour for doing something legal. Anyhoo. Throughout her life, she’s had a string of relationships she’s been completely in charge of. Her boyfriends have loved her utterly and been at her beck and call 24-7. And so, they bored her to tears.
In her early 30s she met Mr X. He was a surgeon, very busy and not particularly interested in her – except as a mildly amusing diversion. Perhaps a story to share with his buddies in the OR. She called him. He didn’t call her back. She flew interstate to surprise him. He had to work for 72 hours straight. She brought him thoughtful gifts. He said, ‘Look, this simply isn’t going to work out.’ He dumped her. She cried.
A few months later she met the man of her dreams. They’re blissfully happy. She doesn’t take him for granted and returns his calls. She wouldn’t dream of standing him up or leaving stiletto marks on his back.
She now describes Mr X as: ‘The relationship I had to have. As unpleasant as it was.’
Mr X taught her a lesson about being on the receiving end of disinterest and made her pull up her socks. He was her boot camp for shaping up for her new relationship. Without Mr X she might still be sitting on a pedestal being adored. She needed to be ignored and dumped to finally realise what she really needed and wanted from her next partner.
So, my question this week is thus. Have you had a relationship that forced you to learn a few home truths? Made you realise what you don’t want in a relationship?
Has a bad, broken relationship, helped you find another, stronger, more healthy love? Let’s hear it people – the relationship you had to have. In 25 words or less...