Category: Advice Column

I’m 35, and I’ve never been in a relationship. I’ve never even been on a date.

People always tell me, “Just be yourself,” like that’s supposed to solve something. But I have been myself. For 35 years. And it hasn’t gotten me anywhere.

I go to work, come home, do the things I enjoy, and see friends when I can. My life isn’t terrible. But year after year, I watch people around me meet someone, fall in love, move in together, get married, and start families. Meanwhile, I’m still in the exact same place.

I’m a woman in my 30s, and I’m struggling with a deep sense of shame that I can’t seem to shake. I have two children with two different fathers. I love my kids more than anything, but whenever I meet new people or have to explain my family situation, I feel this wave of embarrassment. I immediately assume people are judging me, even when they haven’t said a word.

To be fully transparent, my best friend and I didn’t always get along. We hated each other once upon a time, and it was over a girl that we were both trying to go out with. Years later we squashed it and became best friends, and I would say we trust each other very well.

Recently while we were seshing, his girlfriend made a couple of comments to me like, “He’s lucky I didn’t meet you first,” and some other stuff about how lucky my girls are. She also touched me on the leg a couple of times while she was saying it.

Idk if I should tell him because of the past issues we’ve had over women. What should I do?

My coworker has a daughter who has a bit of fame. She is not exactly a celebrity, but she is a public figure. She is verified on Twitter and has a small Wikipedia page that is a couple of years out of date.

I find her interesting and entertaining, so I occasionally look at her social media to see what she is up to. I also ask her dad about her sometimes, and he has told me little stories about her.

I’m a 28 year old man and I still live with my parents. I have a part time job that covers my basic expenses, and my parents don’t pressure me much about money or moving out. I don’t date, mostly because I don’t feel like I have much to offer right now, and honestly, I don’t feel a strong pull to change that.

From the outside, I know this probably looks like I’m stuck or avoiding adulthood. Friends from high school are married, have careers, or at least live on their own. I’m aware of the gap, but I don’t feel panicked about it. My life is comfortable. I have my routines, my hobbies, and very little stress.

I am overweight. I am not extremely insecure, but I do not love my body either. My boyfriend has always been thin. Earlier in our relationship, I made some comments I regret, like saying he was not really “hot,” just cute, and that in different circumstances I might not have dated him. I apologized, but he clearly took it to heart.

A few months later, he became very focused on the gym and eating healthy. When we go out, he always orders the healthiest option or sometimes will not eat at all if there is nothing that fits his plan. He says he is still close enough to his calorie goal and that missing some days is not a big deal.

My wife and I have had a small debate going for about nine years, and she finally asked me to post it here so Reddit can settle it.

When I was about seven, I watched Forrest Gump on VHS at home and loved it. After that, I watched it pretty much every year whenever it was on free TV here in Germany. I still love it today, and I cannot wait to show it to my son someday. Hopefully he does not hate it.

Like with most of my favorite movies and shows that my wife had never seen, I eventually watched it with her.

There was just one problem.

I’m 28 and make $57,000 a year working support at a software company. I’m at a point where I genuinely don’t know what to do next, and I need perspectives from outside my own head.

Three years ago, I was $60,000 in debt and working two jobs. I lived cheaply, worked constantly, traded gold on the side, and eventually paid off everything. At the beginning of this year, I had no debt and $20,000 to $30,000 saved. I felt like I had finally turned a corner.