Dear Prudence,
Earlier this year, I dated someone I’ll call “Ken” for a few months. It got pretty intense pretty quickly, and then things ended somewhat dramatically. I think we both freaked out in different ways. He had just gotten out of a long relationship and I was dealing with some family difficulty, and everything just exploded. I have spent the last six months working deeply on healing, focusing on work, friendships, and myself. Recently, Ken and I reconnected and began spending time together as friends. I have really enjoyed this new time. Our connection still feels very strong. At the same time, I feel much more stable in my own life, and when we discuss our past, I sense that he’s in a different place, too. It has made me wonder if there’s any possibility of us exploring a romantic relationship again. Is that a bad idea? Can exes ever reconcile? For what it’s worth, I’m feeling some extra anxiety because I know my friends and family don’t approve of him because they took care of me during the breakup, and I haven’t told them that we’re talking again.
—Not Ready to Move On