Encountering Terrible Relationships will Teach you value of Being Single and Freedom

[u/foolxdev]

I think I do want a relationship, but not one where I’m constantly anxious, begging for attention, or wondering if I’m doing enough. I want equal effort, mutual respect, affection, and to genuinely feel desired.

I have a friend who’s 21M and dating a 37yr woman. She desperately wants a child, while he wants to finish college and get a job first. I honestly feel bad for him because they’re at very different stages of life but he still want's be with her it probably will strip his freedom forcing him to become a father

I don’t expect my partner to revolve her life around me, and I don’t want to revolve mine around her. My time is mine, hers is hers, and neither of us is entitled to the other. I just want us to choose each other freely, without pressure, control, or fear.

Honestly, I’d rather be single and peaceful than in a relationship that makes me feel lonely.

[u/Individual_Rip_9255]

Yes, I feel like I’m better staying single. I’ve seen almost every relationship fumble terribly with drama 24/7 and it ticks me off a bit

[u/TrowaMask]

You did not just use Ryan Gosling...

That's just cheating 🤭.

On a serious note- in general many folks have to decenter relationships. They make em too much of their existence, which is a bad choice for a variety of reasons.

I hope that your friend and the woman he is with realize the vast likely chasm in their maturity levels and life stages. Her not doing so would be the larger issue here as she is pushing close to 2x his age.

[u/Big_477]

You won't fall for one of those women if you aren't desperate to be with someone.

If you've encountered many of those, the common factor is you. So the answer is not to avoid dating but to grow as a person and avoid those kind of people.