Hi Pat,
I see your dilemma.
Reading your story makes me visualize you being drawn in two directions as if holding back two horses pulling you apart.
Despite your love and desire to be the breadwinner that she expects, it’s ok to let that horse run. You will quickly go back to your other, survivable loves. Your post sounds like you already know this is best for you. It’s ok and you don’t need anyone else’s approval to do this besides your own. My advice is to talk this through with her. Then do it. Check in with yourself then to see your new progress. Pat you need to take care of yourself.
There is also the other scenario. You talk this through and make a feasible plan. When I was just out of college, meeting my soon-to-be wife helped me to get going in a new career as I realized my previous goal would not work for several reasons. I was fortunate to go from media to computers. At the time, though, expectations may not have been as high as you have, so I was able to take the time to transition and ramp the new career.
In the end it comes down to what you two can work out.
Big blue
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