None of my friends who are married or in serious LTRs are happy, except for one couple. And they’re oddballs, Christians who got together when they were 18 married at 22 with 4 kids now at 33. Their life isn’t what I wanted but I do love to see them happy. They inspire my dating decisions actually.
Just because people are with someone doesn’t mean they aren’t cheating, fighting, settling for something you’d run away from, or feeling imprisoned. You’re telling yourself stories.
For now I’d distance myself from that friend and you know what else? I’d look up dating advice to get better success with OLD. It has been helping me so much. I’m 33 and tired of being alone and tired of the dumpster fires. I don’t take 100% of what these people say seriously but dude they have some good points I’ve been considering and using to change my outcomes.
This guy is hilarious, watch his channel https://youtu.be/hQDjuN5c_Mk
This book is really eye opening (some of it is nonsense, but most seems legit) - https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Do-Secret-Doing-Relationships/dp/0380718154
Pretty sure this was it https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Do-Secret-Doing-Relationships/dp/0380718154