Last night, I went out for dinner with my family at a small, local restaurant nearby. It’s a cozy little place, almost always empty, run by a 55-year-old man who single-handedly manages the shop and serves soba noodles.

As I was finishing my meal, my dad struck up a conversation with the owner. What started as small talk quickly turned personal. We learned that he’s unmarried, his parents have passed away, and he lives alone in this quiet town, dedicating his life to his soba business. His only escape? Bike racing every Thursday evening.

There was something about him—a calm but undeniably sad aura. I don’t quite have the words to describe it yet, but maybe someday, as I refine my writing skills, I’ll be able to.

What really struck me was when he said, “It’s scary thinking that I’m 55, not married, and have no family.” He admitted that when he was younger, he had many options, but now… not so much.

And that got me thinking.

Nowadays, young people have too many options. We live in a world where we’re constantly told, Don’t settle for less! But what even is less? And do we really know what we deserve?

We bounce from job to job, relationship to relationship, city to city, always wondering, What if there’s something better?What if there’s a better partner, a better career, a better country? Social media influencers preach about never settling, but here’s the truth: if you don’t put in the work, even the best opportunities will feel mediocre.

You can’t be a couch potato and expect to become a millionaire. You can’t be emotionally unavailable and expect a fairy-tale romance. You can’t expect perfection to just land in your lap without effort.

Now, I’m not saying you should settle for toxic relationships, a soul-sucking job, or a life that drains you. But before you quit on something, ask yourself:

• Have I truly given my 100%?
• Have I communicated my concerns?
• Have I tried to work things out before walking away?

The truth is, there’s no such thing as the perfect partner, perfect job, or perfect friend. Even if perfection existed, guess what? We’d get bored. Humans crave a challenge.

So, before breaking up with your partner, talk to them. Before quitting your job, speak to your boss. Before cutting off that annoying friend, express your frustrations—you might be surprised at how people are willing to change or compromise.

And for the love of all things good, stop taking life advice from influencers who think castor oil cures acne scars.

By the way, if you’re in a relationship (or even if you’re not), I highly recommend the book How to Stay in Love by James J. Sexton. He’s a divorce lawyer, which means he’s basically a specialist in relationships—just, you know, from the opposite end. If anyone knows what not to do, it’s him. Think of it as relationship advice from someone who’s made a career out of watching love crash and burn LOL!

Here’s the link to check it out: https://amzn.to/3CSzG7l ❤️

Also, feel free to say hi to me on Instagram! I’d love to hear your thoughts. Or just drop a comment here. Your insights are always appreciated.
My Instagram: @boundless.pages25❤️

Loads of love,
Hannah