E,

I know having another perspective is useful for me.  I tend to go around inside my head which does not open up other ways to view my situation.

I apologize about the “if he loved me” response.  I did not mean that you want that as a condition of loving you.  I understood what you meant but put that part of my response in there anyway.  That was why I added why I see how people love, they want to be loved/accepted exactly who they are so they won’t have to change.

Please consider this all part of growing in your experience and wisdom in romantic relationships.  I see each relationship as an opportunity to grow, to understand ourselves better through noticing how we react/respond to the other.  This helps more sharply define our values, what is important to us and what is not.

You are 22 which is still very young to find/attract the right man for you.  Not surprisingly when you ask most women who are older, they tell you that they are thankful that they did not stay with the men they knew when they were your age.

And yes, us guys still have cooties :-P.

Mark