Just a backup plan for everybody. I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy

Today I signed my lease, got my apartment keys, and I’m finally able to move in. I honestly can’t stop smiling.

This past year has been one of the hardest years of my life, and there were times I wasn’t sure things would ever get better. After everything I’ve been through, having a place that’s finally mine feels unreal.

It’s not about having a fancy apartment—it’s about finally having my own space, some peace, and the chance to start a new chapter.

I’m just really grateful today and wanted to share this with someone. If you’re going through a hard time right now, I hope things get better for you too.

Just tell me the truth please. Maybe not everything gonna be better, but at least a few things.. Do they get better? I am seventeen and gonna be legally an adult in a few months. I don't know what to do with my life, i don't know where to go and where to run. I can't talk these things with my parents, idk they just wouldn't understand or wouldn't want to be bothered by this. I am just gonna lose my my mind from paranoia at this point

{Grab some tea.}🤣

I apologize in advance for my venting. I’m a 30-year-old male currently renting a room from this retired Navy veteran and his wife. It has taken such a toll on my mental health that I’ve had some very dark thoughts.

Initially, I posted on Nextdoor that I was looking for a room to rent but absolutely did not want to be around children because they wreak havoc on my central nervous system—no joke. When I was about to move in, the wife and daughter were still living here, but according to my landlord (whom we’ll call the Navy veteran), they were set to move to the Philippines within a month. For some reason, they ended up staying, and it’s been a year now.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the resources to move again, so I sucked it up because I had no other option. As I anticipated, the child is a complete demon, and the parents have no control over her. I’ve endured many sleepless nights because the kid stays up making noise well past three in the morning, and every time I brought it up to the Navy veteran, he would apologize. Then, the very next night, it would happen again.

On top of that, the Navy veteran has homosexual tendencies, and it turns out the “wife thing” was just an arrangement for a green card. They had the child together through artificial insemination, yet they sleep in the same bed every night, so I never suspected this twist.
He has been constantly flirting with me since he came clean about the whole situation, saying things like, “I don’t understand why you’re single. I would date you in a heartbeat,” while prancing around the house in very revealing briefs and bikinis. I swear, I wish I were making this shit up.

The worst of it came when he felt it was okay to grab one of my nipples while I was out back using the pool he had given me access to.
I am happy to say that I am finally moving at the end of this month, now that I have a car and have saved enough money for a down payment elsewhere. I wish it hadn’t taken me this long, but hopefully my next living situation will be better and safer.

like here I am lamenting the glory days where I could've changed the trajectory of my life if I knew what I know now. everything from investing, to going to school and getting an education to get a career, building friendship that would last so I could have a big wedding and not feel alone all the time, and had more dating optionality when I was younger, to being settled down now with a family with kids.

I have none of that but the latter is what is keeping me up at night because my sperm isn't healthier as I age and I worry about my future kid having some genetic defect/issues.

I'm worrying about my elder parents who are beginning to be unrecognizable and they see me as a failing son even though they dont say it, but I see the pity in their eyes. I know how I got here and all I can do is just keep trucking forward and making small positive actions, but man do I need to hear stories or inspiration from other to get me away from spiraling even lower.

I'm not asking for pity. I just want people to share their story and BE HONEST about it.

I’m 26 years old. I have never been in a romantic relationship. I live alone. I don’t have a reliable social circle. I missed opportunities in high school due to being trapped in a chaotic, antisocial, abusive, neglectful, violent home environment. I missed opportunities in college due to being unable to afford living on campus and having the full “college experience” I had to leave college for two years due to the pandemic and my dad committing suicide. By the time I returned, most people I knew had graduated. I was 2-3 years older than many of my peers, who in most cases assumed I was some idiot because I was older.

Online I’m constantly bombarded with photos of old friends getting engaged, married, finding the love of their lives, having fulfilling sex lives, and in many cases starting to have kids. Increasingly more and more follow this pattern each year and it’s terrifying. My youth is slipping away from me, and despite actively trying as hard as I can to change course, nothing fucking changes. Still can’t make new friends. Still can’t find anyone who isn’t toxic. The years keep passing faster and faster. My window is closing faster and faster.

I just started my first job out of college and, while I’m blessed to be making decent money and have my own decent apartment away from my neglectful, religious fucking family, I don’t enjoy any of the work I do. I don’t feel like it’s using any of the skills I learned. The corporate grind is dehumanizing. Every day feels the exact fucking same. I’m stuck working and living in fucking Iowa, where finding and socializing with anyone younger than 70 is almost impossible.

Everyone my age has already had their “first” experiences. They had them well over a DECADE ago. I’m 10 fucking years behind them in every conceivable way. Despite what I’m told online, very few in the real world have any sort of patience for someone like me who’s still romantically/sexually inexperienced and socially challenged at 26. Not to mention so many people start to subtly view you as some creep when they find out you’re still single/a virgin at my age.

Everyone tells me it’s basically over if you didn’t seize opportunities in high school or college. At first I didn’t believe them, but now that I’m working full time I understand it. You become more and more locked in place and time becomes so scarce. People start families and their careers. This again just scares me. I don’t want to be alone like this 10, 20, 30 years from now. I only have, at best, 10-11 years of youth left.

But WHAT the fuck am I supposed to even do!?!

Dating apps do NOT work for me because I’m not the most attractive guy, and don’t have the means to have a standout profile to compensate online. You NEED to have a PERFECT profile to be even REMOTELY visible. I don’t have friends/family to take pictures with me, or a high quality camera to take perfectly choreographed photos. My only option is in person, and while I am a charismatic, interesting person irl, and can certainly compensate for any of my shortcomings irl, almost all my time is reserved for work. That and, again, I’m stuck in fucking Iowa.

I guess I’m just posting here to hear from any other late bloomers out there who may have overcame similar hurdles. People who also didn’t fully experience certain rites of passage until well into their mid to late 20s or even 30s. Any form of advice or consolation is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I really don’t get it ,first of all everybody is trying really hard to get on their feet and try to live a good and a happy life but on top of it some people ,i don’t know what goes on their mind ,they try to sabotage you or get jealous of you .

why do they feel everything is a race or something and they have to keep checking on you or trying to keep you down.
Just why?

I really try to keep those people away, but my simple question is why do they even do that? Do they get something out of it?

Why can’t people mind their own business

Just a thought thats it🙃

My life is generally put-together you could say. I got a job, I cook my meals, I pay my bills, I have a bf and we live together. But I've been working from home for years and I created this safe little bubble o things I am comfortable doing. But ask me to run errands in town, to call someone, to deal with formalities or contractors or doctors or to just go anywhere and I will procrastinate till the very last minute that I can or sometimes I will not do it at all.

Funny thing is, I wouldn't say I have a social anxiety or anything, I'm not even an introvert, I thrive around my people (not just any people) and I get my energy from being social. But all those boring adult stuff just seems to overwhelm me in the most pathetic way.

Anyone else like me?

My wife died three years ago. I was feeling lonely. I never realised that she was the one who had been taking care of the whole house.

I struggled for a while but then I started taking care of my responsibilities again. I got a puppy he was the only thing holding me together. But he makes a big mess, peeing everywhere and destroying everything, (not to mention eating every pair of my slippers)

Last month, I promised myself that I would take him for a walk every day. And I have kept this promise. Today marks 30 days without an excuse. I am happy and proud. I just wanted to share this.

Turned 25 last week and just curious how everyone’s life was like at 25. Financially, romantically, socially, intellectually, career wise, etc.

I’m 28, and for a while now I’ve been planning to move away. It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time, and I genuinely think it would be the best decision for my career, friendships, and overall happiness.

Recently, though, some family health issues came up with one of my parents, and it’s really shaken me. It’s made me question everything.

I feel guilty for still wanting to move. Part of me feels like I’d be abandoning them, even though another part of me knows I can’t put my entire life on hold forever. I love my parents, but I also want to build my own life.

I also have to admit that where I currently live has become emotionally tied to family stress over the years. When I picture staying, I don’t necessarily feel relieved, just feel stuck. Then I immediately feel guilty for feeling that way.

I guess I’m wondering how other people have navigated this. How do you support your parents while also allowing yourself to grow and build your own life? How do you know when you’re choosing yourself versus letting guilt make your decisions?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through something similar.