r/LifeAdvice

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My boyfriend and I have been together for 7 years, and this is the only issue that has ever made me seriously question our relationship. I genuinely need outside opinions because I don't know if I'm holding onto the past or if my feelings are understandable.

We started dating in 2019 while we were in college. We had a healthy relationship, trusted each other completely, and never had any major problems.

In 2022, we decided to move in together. His older sister and her husband were renting a house and invited us to live with them. I was hesitant because, coming from an Indian family, I felt that living with my boyfriend's family before marriage could become complicated if anything went wrong. I even told my boyfriend that it was my biggest fear, and it could eventually affect our relationship. He reassured me that he had spoken to her and that everything would be fine.

Unfortunately, over the next several months, things slowly became uncomfortable. I worked from home for part of that time and would cook during my lunch breaks because I wanted to contribute. I also cleaned the house during the week because I usually worked extra shifts on weekends. The house always stayed fairly clean, and after cleaning I would even send photos to my boyfriend because I worried someone might later say I wasn't helping enough.

Despite that, his sister repeatedly told my boyfriend that I wasn't contributing enough around the house. I believe the reason here was they had a fixed work schedule and would spend more time at home. Me and my boyfriend were in our struggling phases but that never made us not contribute to the household. My rule was if I didn't help in cooking dinner today, I would not go eat it/expect them to cook for me. This was just an example to illustrate that even if I was busy/tired, I was never a burden on them. There were many such small things that happened over the months. There were many things that I felt were not right too. Like once I bought a few tshirts as gifts for my boyfriend randomly. She saw them, and told my boyfriend that she likes one of them and she is taking it. That made me feel bad, particularly because she never asked him or me as it was a gift. During another incident, me and my boyfriend planned out a date night after weeks of not seeing each other due to our busy schedules. My boyfriend went to the living area where his sister was watching TV and she asked him where is he headed to. My boyfriend told her politely we are going to watch a movie. She immediately said she will go with us too, to which my bf replied that tonight it is going to be a date night for the both of us. Please keep in mind that we used to go out together with her and her husband too. But during the past weeks we had not spent time alone with each other at all. She wasn't too happy after my boyfriend's answer.

These things started creating differences. Instead of talking to me directly, she kept bringing her complaints to him. At one point she also told him that he listened to me too much and implied that I had too much influence over him. After that, I stopped spending time with her because I no longer felt comfortable around her.

Eventually, everything came to a head. I texted her saying I didn't appreciate her talking to my boyfriend about me instead of communicating with me directly. That evening, all four of us sat down to talk. I kept asking why she had been discussing me behind my back instead of speaking to me directly. Instead of answering my questions, she became emotional and started crying to my boyfriend, saying she had raised him like a mother after their mom passed away when he was very young.

I became overwhelmed and eventually raised my voice and said, "Stop acting fake." I know I shouldn't have yelled, and I take responsibility for that.

The next day, everyone focused on the fact that I had raised my voice. No one acknowledged why I had become so frustrated. Even though I felt hurt too, I went to her and apologized for the way I spoke. She never apologized to me or acknowledged any of the concerns I had raised.

For weeks afterward, my boyfriend couldn't decide what to do. I cried almost every day because I felt like our relationship was falling apart over something I had warned him about before we moved in. Eventually, I decided to move out and end the relationship because I couldn't keep living like that.

That's when my boyfriend decided he wanted to move out with me instead. Before we moved, I told him very clearly that I didn't think I would ever have a normal relationship with his sister again, and that I do not want him to move out with me unwillingly. I asked him to really think about whether he could accept that because I didn't want him agreeing in the moment only to resent me later. He chose to move with me anyway.

Over the next few years, we built a life together. We argued sometimes about his sister, but eventually reached a compromise. He would stay in contact with her only for important occasions or when she had her first baby.

When his father came to Canada, my boyfriend visited them often. His father told him that his sister "is just like that" and that he should visit her more. My boyfriend defended me and said that I had suffered because of the situation too, which I appreciated.

During his father's visit, I also visited them whenever I had time. His sister would often tell him they should plan a trip together. Eventually, they planned one, and my boyfriend invited me as well. On the way to her house, she called him while he was on speakerphone and casually asked if I was coming too. When we arrived, she suddenly said she couldn't come because her baby was asleep and told us to go without her. Whether that was actually the reason or not, I couldn't help feeling like she chose not to come because I was there.

Recently, after we moved into another home, my boyfriend told me he wanted to have a serious conversation. His sister is expecting another baby, and he admitted that he has been struggling emotionally because he misses having a normal relationship with her. He also said that if he kept bottling those feelings up, it would eventually affect our relationship.

We argued about it, and eventually one of his close friends came over to help us talk things through. His friend understood both sides. He told my boyfriend that if he wanted to rebuild his relationship with his sister, it should happen gradually and with clear boundaries. He also understood why I still felt insecure because of everything that had happened before.

After a lot of conversations, I realized something important: I understand why he wants a relationship with his sister. I have a sister too. I know what sibling relationships mean, and now that she has children, I understand why he wants to be involved in their lives. I don't want him to lose his sister because of me, and I'm no longer asking him not to have a relationship with her.

He has also reassured me that he's not asking me to rebuild a relationship with her. He just wants to rebuild his own relationship with her, and he has promised that if she ever disrespects me or interferes in our relationship again, he will step in and protect our relationship.

The problem is...even after understanding all of that and agreeing to it, something has changed inside me.

I don't know how to explain it. It's like my mind isn't the same anymore. Every morning I wake up questioning everything. I keep wondering if our relationship is going to survive long-term, whether old wounds will reopen, or whether I'm setting myself up to get hurt again. I'm trying really hard to be happy. I'm trying to trust his reassurances because I do believe he means what he's saying. But despite all of that, I don't feel like the same person I was before this conversation.

It's almost like the relationship feels different now, even though nothing has actually happened yet.

I don't know if this is unresolved hurt from never receiving an apology or acknowledgment from his sister, if it's anxiety because the thing that almost ended our relationship is becoming part of our lives again, or if it's something else entirely.

I don't want a solution where he cuts his sister off. That's no longer what I'm asking for. I understand why he wants his sister and his nieces/nephews in his life. I genuinely do.

What I'm struggling with is why I have changed so much. Why do I suddenly feel disconnected from a relationship that, until now, always felt safe? Why am I constantly overthinking something that hasn't even happened yet? Why can't I seem to get back to feeling secure, even though he's reassuring me?

I'm genuinely open to hearing different perspectives because I honestly don't know whether I'm holding onto something I should be trying harder to heal from or whether my feelings are understandable given everything that happened. If you've been in a similar situation, or if you think there's something I'm not seeing, I'd really appreciate your advice. I'm not looking for people to simply agree with me- I genuinely want honest, constructive opinions on how to approach this.

I just saw a new therapist today, and I want to have objective, actionable homework. But like, how do you cure major depression, anxiety, porn addiction, and everything else that’s fucked up about me?

I don’t even go to the gym anymore after realizing it was doing more harm than good; everyone there is a mirror, reflecting back on how much of a piece of shit I am. Of all the ways I’m not good enough for any attractive lady there, or how I know I don’t deserve to have a physique like him over there. I’m a poser, a fake, a wannabe.

I want to want to get better; I want to have the persistent desire to change my trajectory. But as I like to say: “even if God himself came down and told me ‘I will watch over and safeguard you so anything you want or do, happens. Nothing will stop you.’” I still don’t know what I want, or have a roadmap to get to what I want.

I hate myself, and wish I could tear myself to pieces down to the atomic level so I never existed

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I'm 19 and today was my first day at my first full-time job. I came home completely drained and all I can think about is quitting.

The thing is, I never really wanted this job. I took it half-heartedly because I felt like I should be doing something. Deep down, I always wanted to go for a master's, and I didn't join college this year because I now have documentation that makes me eligible for better colleges next cycle.

I have about a week to decide whether to continue or move back home before I end up paying another month's rent.

So I'm asking this as if I were talking to an older sibling.

Would you tell me to give it some more time, or would you tell me to trust my instincts and pursue what I actually want?

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I'm 19 and going to my second year of university this September. I can't drive, have no skills for a job, and it takes 100x more effort to leave my room let alone go outside.

Yesterday I got a message from a friend, she is much older than me, and when I was 17-18, my dad would have her take me out often because socializing with someone I'm comfortable around would help my social anxiety and depression in a good way. But my mental health has gotten worse.

It's not in that "I'm so sad and depressed I can't stop crying" way. And I'm not suicidal and self-harm free for a year and 2 months now! I mean that I. Am. Tired.

So tired. I could sleep well, eat well, whatever, and I'm still so fucking tired! I LOVED reading fantasy/romance novels, painting (I'm as good as a toddler doodling), writing poetry, sticker/junk journaling, etc. I was so creative and now I'm just dull and gray. I have no energy or motivation to do anything. And sometimes I do! I get this familiar ecstasy of creativity but it's \*so exhausting\* getting myself to \*just do it.\*

I feel stuck. Back to my point about the nice woman, let's call her Lily. Lily texts me just checking up on me and the shares that her son has just graduated highschool and doing a full time job for the summer! I felt like it should be happy for her. But I'm not. I'm so jealous. Her son can drive, has his own license, social enough to have friends and a job (i know all this because of stuff she has shared with me in the past). And all while he is 18/17. Meanwhile I'm here, with my G1 (learner's permit) but too much of a coward to drive. I'm also just tired thinking of it.

I feel so so so jealous and pathetic that multiple people younger than me, or people my age, are just better. So much better. I want to be better too and get my life together but all I do all day is be on my bed and phone. I watch tiktok or scroll on reddit or watch shows. I live on OSAP living assistant to pay rent for a cold basement room I hate. I don't drink enough water, eat poorly, I stopped taking my pills for MDD (which is actually fucking useless coz lamotrigine doesnt help me at all!)

And all I do is WAIT. Wait for a day I'll wake up and everything will be better. I will \*feel\* like the world isn't suffocating. Like leaving my home isn't as hard as climbing a mountain.

Point is, I need help. I really really need help. It's my only choice. I don't wanna die but I don't want to keep living like this either. Therapy is expensive and hard to find in my region, I have a psychiatrist appointment on Thursday to help me get better meds for my MDD. I've been waiting for that day for months now just sitting on my ass hoping those pills will help my moods and energy and motivation.

I need help, I really need it but I have no one to turn to. I have no friends I trust enough to talk to, my family doesn't take mental health seriously and all I've been talking to these past few months is ChatGPT. And I KNOW its wrong. That's why I'm here. Either I ask ChatGPT for help, or random humans online and clearly I chose the latter. I deleted all ai chat bots off my phone and haven't used them in a week but thats as far as my "get better" plan has gone.

Please give me advice, I really need it. I feel like if I don't start doing something \*now\* I'll just deteriorate and its goodbye to my 1-year streak of no selfharm.

I just want to talk to humans, I need help and I have no one else to turn to and idk what to do. I have a final exam i deferred last semester on Wednesday and a current summer course midterm on Friday and I havent started studying shit for either of them. I open brightspace and its like all energy leaves my body. I cant function.

hello! I’m 20f looking to leave my current job so Im trying to write a resume, for the first time ever lol. I wrote one in highschool for an assignment but I didn’t rlly care about anything in highschool so I don’t remmeber exactly how to do it. I’m using a template on google drive right now, and I’m just wondering how to describe the current job I’m at? I work in food service. And all the advice I see online says to put stuff down like “Excellently operated a cash register to tend to customers while maintaining a positive attitude for a family friendly experience“ and my question is should I really put stuff down like that or are employers going to think it’s silly? I know obviously u need to be professional in a resume but I don’t know how to explain my job in a professional way without feeling like I sound silly. I only work as a cashier and thats not the most spectacular job in the world yk. Idk if I’m explaining well sorry!! I just need advice on how to word a resume, I want to be professional without sound excessive. I’m looking into getting into daycare jobs and don’t want to sound too over the top but also want to make myself sound good yk

I’m in my mid 20s and lately I’ve been feeling stuck between gratitude and anxiety.

On one hand:

I have supportive parents.
I completed my degree.
I’m physically healthy.
I have opportunities available to me.

On the other hand:

I don’t have complete career clarity.
Friends seem to be moving in different directions.
The economy and job market feel uncertain.
Every major life decision feels high stakes.

Sometimes it feels like everyone else knows exactly where they’re headed while I’m still trying to figure things out.

For people who have gone through a quarter-life crisis:

What did it feel like for you?
What helped?
Did things eventually become clearer?
What do you wish someone had told you at that stage?

Looking for honest experiences rather than generic motivational advice.

Hi, I'm almost 18 and for as long as I can remember, I was always told that I'm too mature for my age. I stopped throwing tantrums like kids at the age of 6, I acted like I was 35 at the age of 8, I was extremely polite, obedient, and independent by age 10. I always pondered about deep stuff and maybe that's one of the reasons why I grew up lonely and had no friends. Life seems way harder now that I'm almost 18. I have never had a job, no friends, I'm a bum who still lives with his parents and is financially dependent on them. I feel so lost like a little kid now and there's nobody to guide me through this. Back when I felt lost as a kid, I'd still push through on my own and had a reason to live (to make my parents proud) but now I genuinely don't know what to do with my life. I don't know why despite being the youngest child in my family, I always acted like a responsible grown-up but now that I'm actually almost an adult, all I ever wish for is to be a kid. I'm not ready for the real world, I'm not ready to be a MAN when I never got to be just a little boy.

In my 20s, feels like I am not doing enough or taking enough decisions that are priority to me. Got into university thats expensive with my elder brothers advice. I have the same gifted child story, that is, lost potential suddenly. And now I cant stick with anything, or believe myself with any of my own life decisions. Thats mentally effecting me. And another prick in the bone is my pornography addiction. Please how can I move forward like this, some advice?

I just wish I could sleep forever. At least my dreams are interesting.

It feels like all I do is work, then go home and do chores, then sleep and do it all over again.

On the weekends I need to spend most of one of the days just napping and then there's just one day left for anything fun.

I don't really have friends or anything to look forward to during the week and diamond painting doesn't feel as fulfilling as it once did.

There was a time I didn't feel like this when I REALLY should have. Like I actually had a reason to feel depressed and like things wouldn't get better. But I didn't. Not in this soul crushing way.

It's been really really bad these past few days. I think this extra depressed feeling is linked to my cycle because it tends to happen about a week before my period.

I just want to be happy, or content, or fulfilled.

The only time I ever felt like that is when I had a month of paid leave before a surgery and could go nap. to the beach, or go indoor rock climbing whenever I wanted.

And then after my surgery when I also didn't have to work I still didn't want to stop existing (even though I couldn't even walk. Swallow, close my eye all the way, or even read)

I don't understand.

Obviously that lifestyle is not an actual option.

I am trapped, Hi I'm 18m I live with my partner of many years 18f we will use Bug as her name, Bug and I have lived together for years at this point she rescued me from my very abusive mother. I am forever grateful for her doing this as I was close to ending it all before I met her. After we moved in together everything was great and smooth life was better than ever but recently Bug and I have been getting into big fights where we do hurt each other physically, mentally and emotionally.

I'm writing this after our last fight where she poured massage oil into my eyes after I "was looking at her to much" after arguing over a roblox game. now what I did was not fair I feel and felt like a fight or flight response. I poured it back into her eyes. I snapped I feel bad about attacking back. But its also made me realise that I can't leave. For context Bug was diagnosed with Lypodema, MCAS and Elmer's dolos (i think i spelt all those wrong lol, but its hard to see my eyes still burn) and this made her quit her job which was fine at first this was in July of last year. Since then Ive found a full time job that pays 800 a week after taxes and I've been keep her and myself afloat.

Now for context we live in Australia, Qld, Sunshine Coast. We live in her mother's basement house (its like 2 house ontop of one another) and gives us (me) pretty cheap rent of 100 a week. Now here is my issue I cant save any money Bug takes almost all of it to afterpay, nails, hair, eyebrows, eyelashes name it after my paycheck hits im lucky if I have 100$ to myself which I've been trying to use to get my car license as I have no family or friends that can support me. I'm typing this out realising I can be kicked out over this and have no where to go and cant afford anywhere to live. I want help but I have no one.

I really don’t know where I’m going with this story, which might be part of the problem haha - I’m a 22y/o (queer) male who’s lived on his own for a little over 1,5 years. I have a lot of friends from different places in my life, as well of a great relationship with my family.

My grandma’s passing (this May) has had a very big impact on my life, and I carry the grief with me every day. I still do tons of fun things with my friends - my schedule is full until the end of the month lol - but everything feels less fulfilling, in a sense. I feel like the people in my life skew the attention away from “deep” topics, and prefer to keep things light. I’m a very cheerful person that loves to make light of every situation, so in a way I understand why people act this way around me.

On the other hand, I’m really longing for someone to build a different connection with that knows how to laugh with me and isn’t afraid of humouring stuff, but knows how to actually talk to me as well.

So I don’t really know whether I’m just asking for advice on how to handle this in my life, or for someone to talk with about our respective lives and really form a special bond with. Maybe both? :)

I'm a 24M who was pursuing a BTech in mechanical engineering. I was supposed to graduate back in 2024, but I still haven't because of my back papers. In the meantime, I started working in sales at a company. But I just try for anything. The money I got was good enough to pass by comfortably, but I spent everything I got on stupid shit and even started taking small loans, thinking I'll just clear it off by next month. When the time for the exam comes, I don't study, I don't even try. It's not like I find the subjects difficult. Maths used to be my favourite subject, and I even taught people during my highschool time. But now I still have one of my Maths papers to clear. And last month, I was let go because the company was sizing down. Now I'm back home with my parents. No job, no degree, and in debt. I thought I'd maybe live by doing some delivery work or something, but I don't even have the money to start that. My highest priority right now is to clear the exam. But I don't know what to do till then. The only reason I haven't ended it is because I know my father won't hate me for failing, but for giving up.

For context, they had issued at home to i accepted for them to move into my house (22m2 studio in france). they never pay for rent, groceries or even the house utilities. they’ve been living with me since february for free basically. i did not mind, even when i was not paid yet and they used the money they had for dumb things, not even food or if it was it was for themselves.

Now, i gave birth two weeks ago, they decided to move back to their family house because “it was too much” and now they are asking me the money that they give ONCE to pay half of the rent since FEBRUARY!

I am already losing my mind because it was a stealth pregnancy and i had no idea until i was at the hospital! I’m scared and alone and the only person i thought was my friend is now asking me for money to go and live the same way they lived with me with a person they barely know!

That’s selfish right? Can i be selfish too and say no? also, i did not work the full month, i won’t even have enough to pay rent this month and they know it but the only thing they care about is the money they willingly gave to pay rent in a place they lived too??

am i crazy? please i need advice i dont know what to do and they keep spamming me with messages.

Hello, I am really going out of my comfort zone posting this on social media. I have a situation and I feel like it’s getting harder for me to keep to myself without talking to anyone.

I work as a government contractor and it’s a great job, with a good schedule, and good work life balance. The downside is it is very stressful, it involves work I don’t enjoy doing and it is wearing on me to where when I come home to my 9 month old baby and wife who I absolutely love spending my time with everyday, is starting to make me get irritated easier with them or just distance myself.

I pride myself on being a father and husband, but I also know I am the lone provider at the moment. I am trying to obtain a state job that will be roughly 10-15k less per year but it will be doing something I enjoy. I am also trying to apply for fire departments and get in shape to get into police academy (Dream Job). If I take a pay cut either for the state job or a private company where I could potentially make more money following my degree would that make me a horrible provider or parent?

When I was a kid I didn’t care how wealthy my parents were or what we had. I just enjoyed spending time with my family and making memories.

Just wanted others input to see if I am overthinking the situation or if I should man up and put my feelings aside for my family?

Please don’t hold back, tell me the truth if it is something I need to hear, thanks everyone for letting me join!

Separated but wife’s kids are hostile. Not sure what to do. Trying to make sense of things. Yes I do see a therapist . I’m trying to also figure out if recurrent stress is better or worse if I stay married or not.

There is this girl who says she loves me only ever since she was a kid. But she had exes and when i asked her abt them then she said that cuz she was feeling lonely thats why she used to get into relationships.

**How to know if she is right and not lying to me?**

Ever since i was a kid i always had a wish. I always wanted to marry and have family w someone who's first and only love is me. And the same from my side. Exclusive from both sides. I wanted someone pure. Who had no ex. Maybe like old school or fairy tale style.

In school, alot of girls had crush on me. There first loves was me. But I didn't fall for anyone. I was like that one famous guy that every girls loves in school.

But ill talk abt this one girl. We both were classmates and saw each other grown up. She had crush on me only. But I didn't responded back. Years passed.

But once i fall for her. I got into relationship w her. My first relationship. My first love. I chose her. No one had any crush on her. But she was everything for me.

She liked attention. She liked boys company. There were alot of rumors that she had alot of exs.

While in relationship, i asked her abt all of that. She denied everything. She only accepted being in a relationship w only one guy. I knew that guy.

I asked her why she gone w him if she loved me only. And then she replied- "i was feeling very lonely".

She didn't loved anyone. She didn't loved even that man. She loved me only (those were her words). I trusted her.

She was all into me. We always wanted to get marry and have a family. But due to some extreme reasons she broke up. But at the end she said "ill wait for u till u get a job" cuz back then we were going to get into clg. After that we didn't even saw each other.

Now I got a job after graduating. I was thinking to call her. I was thinking to get settled w her.

I still have the same wish that was back then when I was a kid. Maybe that's all my nature is. That's all me. I dont think so it will ever change. Maybe its eternal.

Back then when I was w her, my mental health started getting bad. I experienced things that I never imagined of. Slowly I got into depression. I used to attacks. I used to have suicidal thoughts. I got into extreme conditions.

The reason was that my childhood wish. The one I mentioned before.

I dont wanna face those hella creepy things all again.

If i marry her then back of my heart ill still knew that she had an ex.

But if i marry anyone else then atleast I wont know any past of that person and i wont even try to know abt. I can live peacefully.

**What should I do?**

**How can I get to know that I was the only love of her? Is there anyway to find out? Cuz if that will be the case then i can marry her peacefully.**

I am a 23M, and my social circle is almost nonexistent. I used to have a few friends back in my early teens, but for most of my life, I grew up alone. To entertain myself, I played video games or watched TV as a kid.

My parents were overprotective. They didn't let me go outside until I entered my teenage years, and because of that, I had a very hard time understanding people's true intentions. I trusted the wrong people and got blackmailed at the age of 10, which led to trust issues. Later, I found some genuinely good friends, and we're still in touch. The problem is that we've all become busy with our lives as we've entered adulthood.

We rarely meet, especially me. My work schedule is very tight, so the only free time I have is around midnight. I prefer to spend that time improving my skills and expanding my knowledge, so I don't really have time to go out and meet them. Honestly, I don't even want to most of the time because it feels like a waste of time. Meeting up with friends once a month is fine, but I'm not the kind of person who wants to hang out every day.

I tend to see everything in terms of investment and return. If I'm investing my time in something and not getting any meaningful return from it, I usually don't do it.

However, I also realize that this mindset limits my opportunities. I know that if I don't interact with people, attend events, or put myself out there, I'll probably miss out on valuable opportunities. At the same time, I don't want to spend my time talking to people every day. It's just not my cup of tea.

So, what advice do you all have for me? Should I continue focusing on building my skills and networking online since the skills I'm developing are mostly relevant in the online world? Or should I make more of an effort to go outside, make new friends, and build real-life connections, which might require me to change my current job because of it's tight schedule.

i'm going through some tough shit right now. i'm starting college in a month and i feel restless now. it's actually many things i'm going through right now, like relationships, loneliness, and healing from past trauma. i'm also learning to live alone now.

a short background from me: i come from a third-world country and lived with my mom and an extended family. growing up, i didn't really get to talk about problems like that. i kinda did well, but i don't know, i was still kinda average. i wasn't talented, i just liked singing and did what i loved, but it was mostly with people or friends. i usually didn't do something i love when i was alone. i needed someone to convince me, support me, or join me. so, that became a standard for me.

now that i need to get stuff done as a young adult, it's hard for me to go out there because i have to research stuff now and i don't have anyone to ask about it. i feel ashamed. i see people having friends to do it with, but i don't. i have some friends, but i don't really have ones that i'm very close with, or a big circle i'm comfortable with. i became introspective not because i'm introverted, but because i just didn't have deep bonds with people, and that makes me sad.

now i'm going through a phase in my love life where i feel alone because we don't really get each other, and we don't say things that bother us. i don't know if i'm courting or doing the right things, and yeah, it's just been hard dealing with that. i say this because i think the main reason why i'm so bothered in this relationship is not because of uncertainty, but my fear of missing out and having no sense of purpose by myself. i mean, like, i like her and all, but the reason why i get massive impact and hurt by friends that let me down sometimes, even by small things, is because i'm sensitive. my life is just, in general, not big and uninteresting.

i feel very inexperienced, so everything feels like it has to take days or weeks to move on and go forward again. it's been hard because i've been noticing patterns for weeks and months. i don't know, i just want support if anyone feels this way too. my life feels like a generic life everyone lives, but i just feel so alone. i don't know how to express what i feel, it's just sad and lonely.

Growing up, I wanted to be a performer but never had the confidence or support. But, at 18, I still felt determined to see it through. My parents were worried so instead they talked me into going to college. I’m now 28, working a job I can’t stand. I’ve tried looking for other jobs, but everything seems to direct me to my current industry, which I don’t want. I’m slowly getting back into performing but worry that it’ll take too long to succeed and that my time has passed. I’m feeling stuck because of the years I wasted but I don’t want to continue down this path. And the idea of just doing it as a hobby isn’t fulfilling; I feel like I’m settling. What should I do?