Finish The Old Before You Start With The New 

So many people begin a new relationship while they're still in one, simply because they feel that their current relationship is over.  It may not be legally over; the divorce papers aren't signed or even filed, but the two people involved are like two ships passing in the night, the love is gone, the emotions are cold, and don't even mention sex. 

You know the kind of relationship I'm talking about.  The kind where both parties have checked out long before the subject of divorce is even brought up.  There are many reasons why nobody bothers to bring it up: kids, because they're both just used to it, fear of loneliness, financial problems, etc.  But sometimes you find yourself involved with someone new, shopping around for a new significant otra like you're single, because inside that's how you feel.

Well here's my advice on that:

Don't.

Here's my reasoning.  If you've checked out of the marriage both physically and emotionally, then why are you still there?  Something is holding you in that marriage, and you owe it to yourself to figure out what that something is, and you also owe it to your new love interest to be there for him/her with all of your heart, and "still being married" does not qualify.  Besides, would YOU want to be with someone who was still married and just "working stuff out"?  How many times can one person say "it's difficult."  Haven't you ever seen Waiting to Exhale?

Dr. Phil always says you should finish what you start.  How can you possibly launch into a new relationship and bank on it being successful when you still have a broken one right in front of you?

Discuss.