I think the key here is to really think about what the letters "U", "F", and "O" mean: unidentified, flying, object. Simplistic, really, but necessary to realize. I believe we have all seen things in the sky that we can't readily identify. I've seen series of streaks like low comets at night from our remote house balcony. There were 7 or 8 that came out of nowhere and moved roughly north to south at perhaps 1,000 yards high. They were visible for about 2 minutes, stayed together, and then moved from that low and relatively slow trajectory to a rapid ascent almost straight up, where they disappeared. Many people in our community called law enforcement, but nobody ever had an answer. Do I think they were aliens? I can't say one way or another for sure, but I'm guessing that some military test was under way.

A curfew can be a good thing, but maybe not for the reason you think. A curfew is like a boundary. It can be put in place, and moved as the teen shows him or herself to be responsible. Having a time at which you have to be home is positive as long as the reason behind it is good. Personally, I believe that I was saved from many dangerous activities by having a curfew when I was a younger teen and lacking in the ability to judge the situation and make responsible decisions. My parents had raised me from a young age to know that there were consequences for each decision I made. They knew I needed to gradually be able to go out with friends in cars, and to places they may not know about. But they didn't throw me into the deep end of the pool to begin with. As I showed that I was more mature, they made the curfew later and later, and then finally removed it when they saw I was ready for the freedom.

Yes! Positive thinking has been shown to lead to positive outcomes in all areas of a person's life! For instance, when you believe yourself to be worthwhile and with something to offer the world, those around you feel that energy, and interact with you on a more positive level. When you believe you can do something, then most likely you will succeed at it. If everyone were to look at the world through eyes colored by positive thinking, we would see a general upswing in acts of kindness, fewer acts of violence, less unemployment, and more fulfilled families. It would be like a wave sweeping over the world, cleansing it of hatred and deceit. I appreciate your comment so much. I try to surround myself with people who are positive so that I stay positive, even faced with the usual life road bumps. Well said, Cucumber.

mscutiepiez, I'm sorry you are in this situation. While I hear in your words that you know what to do, it seems that you are somehow in conflict over taking the step of leaving. Where does that come from? If you have a network of people that care about you, let them in on the problem, and allow them to help you feel more empowered. Nobody should live like you are living! Any change can be scary, right? What is the worst that can happen from being afraid of making this change? You will have a period of time in which you will feel like a boat without a rudder. But the world is yours for the taking! Reinvent yourself, and begin leading a life in which you are given positive messages about yourself, and where you do kind things for yourself. I, myself, found myself in a similar situation two years ago. I left, and I was terrified. For three months, I was gone, and my children were angry with me (although they are grown men). My husband wasn't cheating, and he wasn't ignoring me; but he was verbally abusive and hurtful. In my case, I went back. Things aren't perfect for me, but I realized while I was gone that my husband was unwell. I chose to go back and be helpful to him, and to love him as we worked through our issues. You may never go back; in fact, I don't think you should - your circumstances are different. But I tell you this because those were the scariest months of my life. it was like the world had dropped out from under my feet. During that separation, however, I learned a lot about myself. I found out I was actually worthwhile; I made new friends that supported me through it. I worked as a substitute teacher during that time, and remembered how skilled I was as a teacher. I found new energy and a sense of well-being over time. You can move on, and weather the scary time that it takes you to find your footing. I normally would not make such a bold statement to a stranger like this, but I think it is time to take that leap of faith and move on.

I'm sorry this has happened to you, first of all. I imagine that your ex either is ashamed of her behavior, or afraid of repercussions that may or may not come from full disclosure. In either case, it seems based on what you have said, that she was indeed having an affair all along. But, will having her admit to it make you feel better? Do you want the details that will perhaps haunt you? If she is gone, and with another person, then knowing the truth about her past behavior is most likely not helpful. In fact, the more I think about it, withholding this information from you may be one way of her showing you just how little she cares about what you think, and it may give her pleasure to never tell you. Women are taught in most cultures that it is more understandable for men to cheat than it is for a woman to cheat. I don't know why this is. I would venture to say she has lots of reasons for not telling you, and she may not even be aware of all the reasons herself. You probably didn't deserve what happened to you - nobody does deserve to be treated in such a way. Don't let her bad behavior determine your outlook on life, and how you see yourself. Keep positive whenever you can, so that the good women out there will be drawn to you, and then you will have a chance to move on with someone better, if you choose. Best of luck, and may good things come your way.

I think there are two main components to this issue: your girlfriend's view on herself and how she fits in life, and your view on yourself and how YOU fit in life. Every one-on-one relationship has these two things. You are seeing that your girlfriend feels that she is not secure. You enumerated that she "goes off" on other females that look your way (which will always continue to happen, by the way), and that she checks up on you. Whatever her past is, it is colored by her experiences, and she will continue to see things in this way unless SHE decides that she wants to change her outlook.
It is perfectly fine for you to tell her how you feel about yourself in this relationship, but not to tell her that she is doing things wrong, and driving you to a point of dissatisfaction. Let your words about your feelings be the mirror in which she sees herself, if she chooses to do so. Her reaction may not be pleasing; after all, she seems to be insecure. If she senses your feelings carry with them the possibility of you being less than perfect with the relationship, it will most likely scare her. Just be prepared to be loving in your response, and continue to keep your words about how you are feeling, not using threats such as "I just don't know how long I can go on like this." Tell her you love her, and that you want to feel better in this relationship, and let her decide. The second part of the equation is you. Look at your life, and think about how your experiences have shaped who you are in a relationship today. Do you feel the need to "fix" wounded souls? If so, then God bless you! But think about this in terms of why you love her, and why you are committed to the relationship. Fixers may stay in unhealthy relationships because the fixer will always have the need to fix, and too much guilt for moving on. The relationship will continue to be unhealthy in this scenario. In summary, please look at both sides of this, rather than just at what your girlfriend is doing. Examine your motives and your feelings, and decide for yourself if you want to work through this, deal with the sometimes painful moments, etc...Only you can tell if both of you need to adjust your way of thinking. I wish you luck, love, and happiness.

If studying medicine is a dream of yours, then by all means explore the options for completing the process. We are all always evolving. We are blessed with minds and dreams. Your age is a factor only in that you might have difficulty paying for the education if you have to give up a job in order to do the study. But even then, that is only a road bump. Every obstacle is in essence an opportunity for personal growth. Please finish your Ph.D if you can. I think leaving things unfinished can open the door for regret. It is so wonderful to know that people can reinvent themselves at any age.
Best of luck to you. Keep on evolving.

Your daughter is at an age at which her friend seem to be the most important thing in her life. But behind that, she expects her Dad to be her rock. You don't have to be there physically at all times to be her rock. Talk to her when you can, ask her how she's feeling about things, and tell her how proud you are of her. Continue to parent, though, as much as you can. She needs parents along with friends. As long as she sees you making an effort, and keeping in touch with her, she will feel secure in life. Maybe she won't show you at this point how she appreciates that you are her Dad, be the strong one and give freely of your love and support; one day, she'll look back, and not see that you were physically absent, but that you were indeed a valuable and loving piece of her life. This is how it was for my Father and me.

Try adding Beano or the natural plant Epazote to your foods. Both of these reduce the amount of gas produced in your gut, and are very well tolerated by almost everyone. Epazote can be found in health food stores. Also, if you take any medications for diabetes, many of those cause flatulence. You can ask your doctor about that. My dear soul, please know that, while this problem can be embarrassing, you are a human being, and you should keep living your life with as much joy as possible. Many people have this problem, and most are not at all embarrassed by it, and in fact take pleasure in that they can pass gas in front of people. I am glad that you have compassion for other people, and would like to fix the problem. Kudos to you for your gentility! Keep us posted, and God bless you.

I think we simplify the question because we are humans with limited knowledge of what is beyond our seeing. I personally see us as having one God, but that is because of my experience with religion. I realize, however, that my vision of one God can be because it seems to make God more like me in form. But I know that there are as many viewpoints as there are people in the world. I think one God exists, yet we just misidentify the nature of His being. For instance, in my religion, we believe in God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. The Trinity. Each entity of God is there for a purpose. God created us as a loving father, Jesus, His son, was sent to be the way that we find God, and the Holy Ghost is that form that swirls about us to inform and inspire us. Yes, there are many out there who may not know God. But that doesn't mean God doesn't know them. He calls to all of his flock. It is up to all to hear Him.