OMG!

Will someone telll me what's going on! I read the post, I read the things he wrote and I'm still not getting it!

Sierra, I think you really identified the thing you need to address when you said "I do deserve better, but I've grown up thru my whole life with low expectations." Yes you do deserve better. But evidently you have not placed low expectations on yourself. Judging from the clear and elegant style in which you are capable of writing, I would say you more literate than most of the adults on this site. You couldn't have arrived at that level of competence and skill by being a slacker or settling for mediocrity.

There are a number of reasons why some individuals always seem to gravitate toward relationships with people of lesser caliber. But these are rarely healthy, enduring relationships and often lead to serious problems. If you want I could mention a couple of books written by women for women that deal with this topic. But maybe you need to be your own best friend for a while and learn to find happiness and contentment from within yourself rather than counting on someone else to provide the happiness in your life. Doing so often helps a person to re-evaluate his/her own self worth and emerge with a new attitude.

So, so sorry, Sierra. You will be missed.