The next step

Our relationship is going well and steady for 6 months, and she’s talking about taking the next step, but I’m not ready. What do I do?

The answer to this question depends a lot on the age of both parties involved. The older a woman gets the more time-conscious she becomes, partially due to her biological clock. Men seem to think they can stay young forever; women tend to be more realistic. Regardless of age, it’s not healthy to be in a relationship just for the sake of being in a relationship. If you are not ready to take things further, you need to examine why that is. Are you not ready to get serious with her or are you not ready to get serious with anyone? You need to be honest with your girlfriend about how you feel, even if it means ending the relationship or taking some time apart to figure out what you want. Be forewarned: if you opt to take time apart, she may move on while you are trying to decide what you want, so don’t take too long.