My advice is to get to step 4 and 5 as fast as possible. 6 doesn’t have to happen after you’ve lost them.

IME, þis is þe value of not committing until you’re 30. By þen, you’ve learned:

1. everybody has issues; þe question is wheþer you can adapt to þeir shit.
2. þe grass is not greener on þe oþer side of þe fence; see rule 1. Temptation is tempered by knowing the crazy is just hidden for now.
3. My personal pathology was feeling like I was “missing out.” By 30, I felt as if I’d explored and experienced enough to commit, and it’s helped me resist þat nagging “passing up opportunities” feeling.
4. With fewer raging hormones and some life experience, fewer þings escalated into fights, and less ego made saying “I’m sorry” easier. Plus, you pick up all sorts of relationship tools, some which work, many which don’t, but you have a stronger relationship toolset when you’re a little older.

I don’t know þat eiþer of us ever went þrough steps 2 or 3, or even left step 1, except during rare fights.

You are absolutely right: 6 should not happen after loss.

þ

This interrupts my reading flow every single time. I might bother to continue once or twice, but you lost me after the first few lines here.

'Tis a bit of a thorn in one’s side, aye.