Reveling in the Chaos of It All
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Author: Theodore Lee

Theodore Lee is the editor of Caveman Circus. He strives for self-improvement in all areas of his life, except his candy consumption, where he remains a champion gummy worm enthusiast. When not writing about mindfulness or living in integrity,  you can find him hiding giant bags of sour patch kids under the bed.
Advice Column

“Breaking up with my fiancee because of his mom”

Last month, I ended my engagement and a four-year relationship because I could no longer handle the way his mother treated me.

She regularly made cruel comments about my career and my body. Any time he showed me even simple affection or said something kind, she’d respond with disgust or throw in a passive-aggressive jab like, “Do you really have to do that?” It was clear she didn’t think I was good enough for her son — and she didn’t hide it. More than once, she told me directly. I’ll never forget her saying, “Mama will always be number one.”

Read the rest: “Breaking up with my fiancee because of his mom”
Life Advice

“My girlfriend keeps giving me “boyfriend” tests”

My girlfriend (30F) keeps giving me (38M) “boyfriend” tests. We’ve been together almost 4 months (not long I know).

About a month ago my gf started doing boyfriend tests on me. It started with her telling me she wanted a weekend alone. So I gave her space, while making myself available if she wanted company. I failed that test because I didn’t surprise visit her.

Read the rest: “My girlfriend keeps giving me “boyfriend” tests”
Life Advice

The Quiet Power of Assuming Positive Intent

Relationships — the real kind, the messy kind, the forever kind — aren’t undone by grand betrayals most of the time. They’re worn down, day by day, by small assumptions. Dangerous ones.

Maybe you know the feeling.

She forgets to tell you about a school event until the last minute. He criticizes how you loaded the dishwasher. She reminds you — again — to lock the front door, and it lands like a slap, not a suggestion.

Read the rest: The Quiet Power of Assuming Positive Intent
Links

Linkage

Eerie Final Photos of Famous People Taken Shortly Before Their Passing – Rare Historical Photos

5 Big Questions You Always Wondered About — Finally Answered – Ned Hardy

A fantastic affordable knife sharpener. Simple to use and extremely effective. Leaves a perfect edge on your blades every time and doesn’t ruin the blade – Amazon

An Employee Surveillance Company Leaked Over 21 Million Screenshots Online – Gizmodo

52-year-old quit his job, bought a failing snack company for $250,000—he just sold it for $750 million – Make It

Making a Single Bolt for an F1 Car Takes an Insane Amount of Work – The Drive

From dogs to rabbits, readers share how adopting shelter pets impacted them – NPR

The Life Lesson I Wish I Taught My Kids A Lot Sooner, According To 12 Dads – Fatherly

24 Memes That Are Hard To Argue With – Ned Hardy

This license plate frame is ingeniously designed to ward off scratches, scuffs and minor damange from fender benders – Amazon

A $20,000 electric truck with manual windows and no screens? Meet Slate Auto – ARS Technica

How Cam Ward beat the odds to become the No. 1 pick – ESPN

The 7 Worst Serial Killers from OUTSIDE of America – Linkiest

5 Powerful Ways to Boost Teen Mental Health – Psychology Today

Advice Column

“My husband’s default is to disagree with me.”

Over the last year or so it’s like my husband’s default has become to disagree with me/question me about everything, especially very mundane things. Some examples:

Refused to add toilet paper to the grocery list since we “already had some”. We’re currently using the last roll.

Says he doesn’t like dinner tonight because I used pasta from the orange box. I didn’t. He insists I did until I pull the box I used out of the trash.

Read the rest: “My husband’s default is to disagree with me.”
Advice Column

“He won’t marry me after 16 years and two kids”

wont marry me

I’m a 38-year-old woman who’s been with a 40-year-old man for 16 years. We have two daughters (4 and 8). I always wanted to be married before having kids, but he convinced me otherwise — saying he feared I wouldn’t want kids if we married first. I gave in, and I’ve regretted it ever since.

For years I’ve felt depressed and disposable, but the feelings got worse last summer before our 16th anniversary. I think about it every day — feeling like I’m not good enough to be loved fully. I’m a stay-at-home mom and financially dependent on him, so leaving isn’t simple.

Read the rest: “He won’t marry me after 16 years and two kids”
Life Advice

Nobody Made You Do It: Own Your Actions, Own Your Life

There’s a lie that’s as old as time. A lie we love telling ourselves because it makes the world feel safer. It goes like this:

“I wouldn’t have said that if they hadn’t pushed me.”

“I wouldn’t have acted that way if they hadn’t hurt me first.”

“I lost my temper because they made me.”

No. They didn’t.

Nobody made you do anything.

You did that.

Read the rest: Nobody Made You Do It: Own Your Actions, Own Your Life
Links

Linkage

5 Historic Photos That Speak Volumes – Ned Hardy

I don’t know how I ever cooked without a salt box before…. I use it so effortlessly compared to having to grab my box of kosher salt before that it’s actually improving the taste of my dishes. I just use it so much more freely and easily – Amazon

Why a Healthy Gut Is So Important for Overall Wellness – GQ

4chan may be dead, but its toxic legacy lives on – ARS Technica

VW will deploy ‘thousands’ of robotaxis on Uber’s platform in the US – The Verge

Ranked: All the Things People Use AI for in 2025 – Visual Capitalist

Are Advertisers Going To Infiltrate Our Dreams? – The Hustle

5 Questions From History, Answered – Ned Hardy

Kitchen Life Hack: Put your oils, vinegars and sauces in squeeze bottles. It’s much easier to dispense the exact amounts and no more fussing with pulling out large glass bottles – Amazon

How to Remove Malware From Your Mac – Life Hacker

7 Most Notable Roman Emperors – Linkiest

The 15 Best Heist Movies Ever Made, Ranked – Den of Geek

18 Painfully Strict Rules Parents Forced Their Kids to Follow – Bright Side

10 Conceptions of What Extraterrestrial Could Look Like – Listverse

An AI-generated radio host in Australia went unnoticed for months – The Verge