Stanislav Dankoa month agoI'm a 21-year-old male, and I'm finding it difficult to come to terms with the idea of breaking up with my girlfriend, who is also 21. We've known each other since middle school, and our friendship has spanned over eight years, during which we've had several "flings" before officially dating last February. Although she is a wonderful person—kind, caring, and always willing to help others—our relationship has faced numerous challenges, especially in recent months. Lately, I've been feeling increasingly overwhelmed. My girlfriend frequently brings up topics like marriage, starting a family, and settling down, which has been causing me a lot of stress. I’ve shared my thoughts with her, explaining that my goals don’t align with her vision for the future. I'm currently in school to become a registered nurse, and I have aspirations of traveling for work, which could mean being away for weeks or even months. Whenever we discuss this, she tends to brush it off with "we'll figure it out when the time comes," but I’m not sure that’s a realistic approach. Another issue that has been weighing on me is her living situation. She struggles to take care of her belongings and her space, often letting laundry pile up for weeks and allowing her room to become cluttered with dirt, old food wrappers, and other debris. I’ve addressed this with her, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clean environment, especially if we ever consider living together, but there hasn’t been any noticeable change. Additionally, she often lacks confidence in our relationship, constantly second-guessing us despite the reassurance I provide. This has been frustrating and draining for me. There’s a complicating factor: last month, she broke her leg. This injury has understandably taken a toll on her motivation and drive, and she relies on me for support and encouragement. While I want to be there for her, I also feel the weight of her dependence on me, and it’s hard to see her struggle. As her recovery progresses, she’ll be able to walk without crutches by the end of this month. I'm torn between waiting to see if things improve once she regains her independence or ending the relationship now. I know that if I choose to break up, I will miss her and the bond we've built over the last eight years. The thought of throwing away our friendship is daunting, especially with our one-year anniversary approaching. I’m reaching out for advice on how to navigate this difficult situation. Should I wait it out, or is it time to move on? Thank you for any input you can provide.138
Stanislav DankoStanislav Danko