My family has always been very tight-knit and close. Of course, they have their moments when they get on my nerves and we’ve had our disagreements, but at the end of the day I’d do anything for them. I fully realize how lucky I am in that respect.

I agree with you on family, though. The majority of my nuclear family are people that I would not associate myself with if I was not forced too. Does it make me a bad person, maybe. But I think they all just need to grow up a little.

Personally, I think you’re pretty lucky to have not bee in a relationship. They’re essentially meaningless, and it’s the most awful thing to learn. Relationships are a big waste of time. True friendships are of far more worth if you can find them, because it’s relationships that ruin strong friendships like the one you share with your best friend. And nothing – especially not ‘love’ – is worth screwing that up.

People have assumed a close friend and I were dating, and then my best friend and I were dating (we weren’t at that time, and not for many months afterward). I’m with you — best friends get you, they know (and am obviously) comfortable with the fact that you don’t need to see or be with them all the damn time, but know that you still care.

I’m a huge believer in love but I think the portrayal of love in society and media has become more and more unrealistic, which skewers personal experience with love.

I love my family. I was brought up to believe that family is the #1 unit in my life and I wouldn’t trade that for the world. No one understands me like family and no one will support me like the way my family does I’m really lucky in that respect as I know not everyone agrees with those statements!

Family – I love them, but I don’t always like them!

And I’ve never been in a relationship either, although I’m only 17. I’m not really bothered by that, even though it was definitely uncommon for my year level. I figure it’s more important to be in a good relationship than to try to get into one as fast as one can. When it happens, it’ll happen, to borrow a cliché!

I always appreciate other people’s thoughts about love and relationships. Everyone views them differently and it’s always interesting to see other people’s takes on them. I can completely understand how you feel about families. I am very close with my family but I know that I am very fortunate. Also, there are always times that they drive me crazy and it wasn’t until I moved out that we truly got along. I have a lot of friends who aren’t, too. I never understood this crazy, intense assumption that everyone in a family has to love each other and always put each other first for everything. Sometimes it just doesn’t work that way. You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family.

I also don’t think it’s strange that you never have been in a relationship. I was 18 before I had my first relationship and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that either although some people often sound surprised. Oh well. They just don’t realize there are plenty of people who just aren’t in the dating scene for various reasons.