Dear 'Friend',

Just because you've been unable to land a healthy, good relationship (although I hope this current one is) and I have been divorced doesn't put us at the same category of responsible adulthood.

But if you insist on a comparison, by all means, let's:

1) You've a history of making poor relationship and personal decisions. Now, everyone makes mistakes, but yours are the same juvenile ones you've been making since college (which you dropped out of). You're 27 now - are you going to pay any attention to the pattern in the slightest?

I've made my share of mistakes, not in the least being my failed marriage. You don't know a damn thing that went on there, and the fact that you judge me because of it says more about you than me.

2) In the 9 years I've known you, you've almost filed for bankruptcy and have had creditors chasing after you for half of your adult life. I busted my ass, sacrificed things to pay off my debts and put myself in a position where I could launch my freelance career in full force. The freedom I have to not be scared about those harassing phone calls, to be at peace, is worth it.

3) My LDR is not your LDR. Period.

So when you question my plans to move overseas, I can and will give you a disdainful eyebrow raise. How dare you insinuate you know better than I how to manage my life. Questioning "Do you have a Plan B?" makes you sound ******ed. Because although some of us have barely learned from the school of hard knocks, others have utilized every moment of painful growth to make us better people. I've got plans B-F for a myriad of situations, and most importantly, the strength and flexibility to get through anything I have to employ.

And that flimsy "I'm nervous for you"? It's bullshit. I know you better than that. Because you are insecure in where you're at doesn't mean that I can't embrace life and it's joyful chaos as something to adventure in rather than cower from.

Am I better than you? I can't really say - everyone's got things they're better at, things that are more of a priority. But I'm happy with my life. Even if my relationship ended in utter disaster, I'd still not regret this. So please, keep it to yourself, because your snideness is showing through your 'sincerity'.

Grow Up,

Sil