I spent my 20s proudly supporting my partner's business. Now that I'm in my 30s, I'm realizing what I gave up.
Throughout my 20s, I supported my boyfriend as he followed his dream of owning a restaurant. Now, I'm realizing how many milestones we've put off.
Rachel LaBella fell in love with her partner's ambition to own a restaurant in her 20s. She admired his willingness to reject a traditional job and build something of his own. They lived with financial insecurity, putting off milestones like buying a home. By her early 30s, LaBella realized she had given up milestones in her own life while waiting for his restaurant to financially pay off.
He became the sole owner at 30, but the restaurant often felt like a third person in their relationship, causing stress and financial strain. LaBella's career as a writer was sidelined to prioritize stability for the business. After her cancer diagnosis at 30, she felt the urgency to pursue her own life goals. She and her partner now discuss their future plans, balancing pride in his success with longing for milestones they wish they'd achieved.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
