You sound like you live well, writes advice columnist ELEANOR GORDON-SMITH. Don’t be fooled into a view of success based on values that aren’t your own I HAVE RECENTLY MOVED BACK WITH MY PARENTS IN MY EARLY 30S AFTER OVER 10 YEARS OF LIVING INDEPENDENTLY, AND WHILE MY PARENTS LOVE HAVING ME HERE AND WE HAVE A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP, I FEEL AS THOUGH I AM FAILING AT THE LINEAR LIFE PATH THAT NEARLY ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE LIVING. MOST OF MY FRIENDS ARE SETTLING DOWN IN RELATIONSHIPS, BUYING PROPERTIES, EXCELLING IN THEIR CAREERS. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN SINGLE FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS AND DO NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT A PARTNER. I DON’T WANT TO SETTLE AND DATING GAY MEN IS DIFFICULT IF YOU DON’T LOOK LIKE A GREEK ADONIS. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY JOB BUT I WORK FOR A CHARITY, WHICH MEANS I DON’T GET THOSE SALARIES MY FRIENDS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES GET AND IT’S HARD TO EXCEL UP THE CAREER LADDER QUICKLY BECAUSE OF LIMITED ROLES, AND I HAVE MINIMAL SAVINGS SO THE PROSPECT OF HOME OWNERSHIP IS NOTHING SHORT OF A FANTASY. WHY DO I FEEL SO STRESSED AND SAD ABOUT THIS? I KNOW WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN PATHS IN LIFE AND THE STANDARD LINE LIFE ISN’T SO PERFECT. BUT I JUST FEEL AS THOUGH I AM GETTING OLDER AND MISSING OUT ON THOSE MILESTONES THAT I SHOULD BE AND DO WANT TO BE EXPERIENCING. DOES THIS GET EASIER AND DO YOU CARE LESS AS YOU GET OLDER? Continue reading...
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