Youve got problems, Ive got advice.

This advice isnt sugar-coatedin fact, its sugar-free, and may even be a little bitter.

Welcome to Tough Love.

I simply want to give you the tools you should probably enrich your damn lives.

If for whatever reason you dont like my advice, feel free tofile a formal complaint here.

Now then, lets get on with it.

Its not that I dont want to, its that I dont really know how.

Sincerely,

Late Bloomer

Hey Late Bloomer:

Stop treating yourself like some kind of weirdo.

You didnt feel the overwhelming urge to pursue romance before, and now you do.

You do not need experience to go get it.

Dont let the echoes of those shitty kids color your perspective of yourself.

Everybody was taunted for something growing up.

Also, for the record, not everyone learns how to date when theyre young or in their teens.

Media and pop culture just make it seem like thats the case.

But youhave to own it, Bloomer.

You have to be comfortable with your inexperience.

If someones turned off by your inexperience, fuck em.

You want people who are interested in dating you, not your past.

Now that you have the right mindset, make yourself someone worth dating.

you better hone some qualities that make spending time with you worthwhile.

Oh, and wear a nice shirt.

I speak Spanish, English and French.

I am Canadian and I am weird and amazing.

Problem is, everyone around me is completely uneducated.

Also, everyone here was married by the time they were 17 and have children.

So, I am lonely as fuck.

So like, advice?

SilvaFan34

Hey SilvaFan34:

Youre right, I am going to be lame.

But Im also going to tell you to stop sleeping with peoples husbands if thats causing you problems.

Go ahead and assume everyone is married there, you know,like you said.

I picture you pausing episodes ofBrain Gamesand kissing the screen.

Its weird, but hey, so is talking to a volleyball.

We all need a way to cope with things in troubling times.

That said, this obsession of yours isnt doing you any favors.

Im not sure why youre in rural Colombia, but its obvious youre not happy there anymore.

If you want something more than friendship, SilvaFan, you have to go somewhere else.

Jason Silva lives in New York City (sorry Jason).

Go there and look for him, or at least someone like him.

He has anxiety, depression, and OCD.

Upon graduation, he wanted to get away from our red state, so moved to Oregon.

Hes writing again some.

Hes been away for three years now.

He wants to get a better job, but until lately, has been too anxious to try.

We do pay some of his smaller bills, but would like to stop in the future.

Hes been most appreciative.

Should we have a go at have a family meeting with the counselor?

What else would be most helpful?

Mamma Bird

It sounds to me like your son is doing a pretty bang-up job considering his predicament.

Its time for him to leave the nest.

You wont always be around to push him along and give him a loving tap on the helmet.

Show him your love and support.

You dont owe him anything else.

Tell him however you want.

Its time to push him out of the nest, Mamma Bird.

How do I know this?

(In Ohio that counts the same as hitting the other person).

Im one semester away from completing my associates in computer science and planned to get my bachelors.

However Im thinking that no company is going to hire me so why rack up more debt?

What should I do?

Resources like theNational Hire Networkand theFederal Bonding Programmight be able to help.

That said,this should be a cautionary tale for everyone else.

We recently had a third but he retired along with a lot of senior management and the president.

I want to leave this position and Im really hesitant because the workload is too much for one person.

How do I leave my position without burning a bridge here?

Thank you,

Burning a bridge?

No, they built a shitty bridge and thats their problem.

Its not personal; its the way business works.

Maybe instead of a two weeks notice, you give them four.

If you want out, get out.