There is something ominous that you have to understand when anyone gives you advice.

They are not really giving you advice.

What they are really doing is two things: imposing their view of the world on you; and desperately reassuring themselves that they made the right choice.

When someone tells you to “settle,” do you know what they’re really telling you? That they settled.

When someone tells you “you’re not getting younger,” you know what they’re REALLY saying? That they have their own demons about their bodies and what their partner thinks of them.

They desperately want you to accept that you should settle, because God forbid – if you actually found happiness without setlling, it means they fucked up and missed out on happiness.

For example, as you discovered, all parents want to tell you their parenting style is the best. Why? Because if they don’t buy that lie, it means they screwed up.

What they’re all saying is PLEASE… PLEASEEEE listen to me. What I’m saying MUST BE TRUE. I AM GOING TO SHOVE MY philosophy down your throat and you will accept it because I CANNOT ACCEPT THAT IT IS NOT TRUE. BECAUSE if I’m wrong, it means I fucked up. It means I am a fool for “settling” for an unhappy life, when I could actually be happy. And I’m not a fool… I have to be right.

What they’re all groaning is, “If I can’t be happy, you can’t be either.”

Refuse that poison. Don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking you can’t be happy, just because they aren’t happy themselves.