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I think we all know where we were and how we felt the first time we had an Uncrustables. Okay. They're the perfect grab and go for all of life's moments with unbeatably soft bread and variety of flavors like peanut butter and grape jelly, peanut butter and strawberry jam, peanut butter and raspberry spread and more. No mess, no prep. Just thaw and eat. Get them in the freezer aisles today. Upgrade your bathroom routine with the Cottonell Cleaning Duo. Their toilet paper and flushable wipes feature cleaning ripples designed to help you come clean. Using them together leaves you feeling cleaner and fresher than dry toilet paper alone. Cottonelle gives you that kind of clean that makes you want to come clean about everything else, like admitting you've been rocking press on nails since 2008. It's the clean that boosts your confidence and keeps you feeling fresh all day. Daddy Gang. Welcome back to another Sunday session. I hope everyone had a nice holiday break. I hope you guys got some rest. I don't even know why, but I feel exhausted, even though I should be so relaxed because it was the holidays. So I'm about to crack open an unwell energy. Everyone calls this the pog flavor. Or the pog flavor. It's passion fruit, orange, guava. You can get it. Oh, little asmr. You can get it at your local target, everyone. I'm obsessed with these, you guys. I didn't really even drink like energy drinks. Like I think most of my friends do. Like I would have one like once a week or something, but now I'm drinking one every single day because they're so delicious. Oh my God. That's what I needed. Okay, holiday break, we're back. Also, I feel like New Year's resolutions don't even start until Monday, right? Like, we're fine. Okay? We've got one more day. We can just relax and we can chill before life hits us in the freaking face. I hope you're all laying on the couch eating some holiday leftovers. Maybe your screen time is up. It's a beautiful time to be alive. I actually came across a tick tock the other week while I was scrolling that I saved because I wanted to come on here and talk about it with you guys because it got me thinking the tick tock was essentially a girl asking, please help girls. Like what are we talking about at dinner with our long term term partners? And she went on to say that at a certain point, after years of being together, you kind of just know everything about each other. So what the are you gonna talk about? And you know, I think it's interesting because I will say like usually my day to day life, Matt and I don't have enough time to talk about all the things that we want to talk about. Like we don't run out of things to talk about. We both have really hectic jobs. We, we're going out, we're meeting new people. We're both so busy with our own routines and that kind of makes us come together at the end of the day and it's like pretty easy because there's just so much for us to discuss, right? But I have noticed that say we go on like a two week vacation, which is never, but I guess just happened because it's the holidays. But like if you are away together maybe or things are slowing down like for the holidays and you're just together 247 at home, let's say there is a lot less to discuss when you go and sit down for dinner because you literally just spent the whole fucking day together. You're like, we moved from the couch to outside and then we took a little five minute walk to stretch our legs to go rot in bed again. Like we were together the whole time. We brushed our teeth next to each other. So what do you talk about when dinner hits, right? And so as I was scrolling through the comments on this girl's TikTok, I saw a lot of people who were Struggling with the same thing. And it can lead to, I think, some feelings of anxiety, right? You're like, am I bored with this person? Should we just turn on the TV during dinner? Like, is there something wrong if we sit in silence? Has the spark died? And while I don't think necessarily that silence is a bad thing, I do feel like it can potentially be a red flag if it's happening all the time. It's great to be so comfortable with each other that like you can sit in silence. But it is also really easy to become complacent in long term relationships on topics like this. I obviously find it really helpful also to turn to people for advice who have decades more experience than I do. Like, I'm coming to you fresh into like what, a two year marriage? Like, yes, Matt and I still have so much to talk about. We're not struggling. So I do think that, I think, okay, who would have experience that could really fudgeing talk about this? And then I think about my parents who have been together for 40 years. Like, how do you not run out of things to talk about for 40 years? I actually am actually quite fascinated. And so I started doing some good old research so that we can go down a rabbit hole, right? And just I wanted to hear from older couples who have dealt with this issue. And you guys, let me tell you what I've been up to today, okay? I ended up on a website called 60 and Me. Okay? This is an online magazine for women who are over 60 years old. So, you know, I'm not personally perusing this website often. To be quite frank, I didn't even know this website existed. But let me tell you, they've got some really interesting things to say over here. The conversations that are happening on 60andMe.com this is not an ad. This is just a Genuine thank you, 60 and me for providing us absolutely hard hitting research. So I came across this article called have youe and your Spouse Run out of Things to Talk about by Pam Lamp. And I'm going to read a little bit to you today. Here we go. In our younger days, I'd watch the older couples next to us in restaurants and I'd vow, we'd never be like them. Those folks who sat across from each other and ate their meals in silence. I'd nudge my husband, we won't be like them. That won't be happening to us. Well, never say never. As we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary with white tablecloths, soft music and menus loaded with French Dishes. Conversation lasted through cocktails, but after we gave our orders to the waiter, we struggled. How had we run out of things to talk about before? Kids and mortgages. Our younger selves had a steady stream of thoughts. We couldn't wait to tell each other. Now we floundered. I wanted more, so we sought therapy. The therapists we visited did not think we were falling apart. Still, I winced when she used words like complacent and stale and stagnant to describe our relationship. It seems we expected our marriage to hum along in a happy rhythm without a lot of effort or energy on our parts. Our relationship craved a good shot of novelty. Like humans are wired to do what we had gravitated towards activities requiring us to stretch ourselves the least. We chose restaurants where reservations and parking spaces were easy to come by. We hung out with those friends we knew the best, the comfortable ones who were the most like us. But newness, it injects excitement and passion and brings couples back to life. Novelty, we discovered, didn't have to be on a grand scale. Cooking new recipes or sipping coffee in a trendy neighborhood or watching a wildlife documentary all contributed to our relationships reboot. Nowadays, we are the older couple in restaurants, but we are talking. We converse about the long list of things we want to do and learn and how we can continue to grow together. I don't know about you guys, but I'm fucking crying. K60 and me. 60 and me coming through. Guys, if you told me OG caller daddy days, like you're gonna be quoting 60andme.com, bitch. I think it was like a sugar daddy site. I wouldn't think that it was wisdom. Okay? We've come a long way and so clearly has this couple look at that transition. Basically. She also goes on to say in the article that she talks about how their next date night as a couple was rock climbing together. So you know what? Go, go, Pam. Okay. We love to see it. I hope you are still thriving with your husband. But what I kind of took from reading this is that as human beings, it is natural for us to drift towards routine and familiarity in our lives. Trust me, I know that it is so much easier on a random Wednesday night to come home to your partner, get your favorite takeout, watch your favorite show that you've seen 19 fucking times, and maybe do your favorite sex position that night and just like be like, all right, call it a night. Good night, sweetie. Quick kiss, we're done. And there is nothing wrong with that until it becomes the routine every week for Thursday night and then Friday Night and then Saturday night. And then suddenly you look back and you realize you guys have been doing the same activities day after day after day over and over. Because the comfort is a lot easier than trying something different over time. If you keep going on like that, of course you're going to run out of things to talk about together because nothing new or exciting is ever happening between you two, right? But if we can prioritize trying new things together in a long term relationship, then I think that spark really does start to come back to the relationship. So let's say one random Wednesday night, you guys turn off Netflix and go take a cooking class instead. There is now so much more for you to talk about that night. Right when you get home, you're like, babe, what did you think of the class? What was your favorite dish? We made. What's the best meal that you've ever had in your life? Oh, my God. Live octopus. When did you eat live octopus? Wait a second. You've been to Korea, like, when you were 12? Oh, my God. Why did your family go there? Oh, my God. Like, you went with an ex girlfriend. I'm gonna kill you. Tell me about her. What does she look like? Did you have better sex together? I'm just kidding. Don't go that route. But you know what I'm saying? Like, and then even at the actual cooking class, you can be flirting, you can be people watching, you can be judging people, you can talk shit, you can have a good time and bond together. Right? I think when you and your partner, especially I was thinking about this when I was preparing for this episode. It's like, when you move in together, it becomes even more important that you two make this a priority. Because it's so easy to be like, oh, you know, we're nesting. We don't need to leave the house to see each other anymore. Like, this is perfect. We love it. Like, yes, hey. But then you're sitting on the couch staring at each other, and it's like, wait, why are we now just the same person doing the same thing at the same time? Like, what happened here? There is no foreplay of you getting ready and shaving and putting on a cute little outfit to, like, go see him? And I think this kind of leads to my next point because I have to say that, yes, well, trying new things together is so important for the health of your relationship. It is also equally as important that you're trying new things on your own. Daddy gang. In a relationship, you both need to be continuing to push yourselves individually to evolve and to change. Right. Like, you're not. No. Who's interesting if they're not trying to like, become better or change and evolve. Like. And I think it's important to have a commitment to growth from both partners. It's so vital to have long term health for the relationship. If that's, if, if, if that is what you are committed to, I genuinely think you will have a prosperous relationship. And that starts with maintaining your independence. From my experience, I have found that relationships start to get really stale when people become too intertwined in each other's lives. And it's weird because you're like, wait, I thought that's the point of a relationship. But it's like to a point like, at first it feels sweet, like, oh my God, they're my best friend. We love to do everything together. But then over time, that dynamic can take a toll on the relationship. We all know those motherfucking couples, right? Every weekend they have the same social calendar, right? Every dentist appointment, they're by each other's side. You plan a girls night. Well, you know what? John George Joseph is coming right along. Oh, babe, I'm coming. It's like, no, it's just a girls night. Ah, well, John George Joseph. What the fuck is that? Is coming along okay? Yes, that's one person. Um, their hobbies are the same, the shows they watch are the same, and all of a sudden it's like they've just become one person. Your social life should not entirely revolve around your partner. I'm not saying a majority can't be. I just think that, like, I do think it's beautiful to have shared interests with the person that you are dating or you are married to. Absolutely. But it is also necessary to prioritize maintaining your own individuality. I look back at relationships that I have been in and I wish I had been able to maintain some more independence in those relationships. In one of my past relationships that I ended up getting cheated on, that I recently talked about, my partner's life had just become my life. Our days revolved around his schedule, seeing his friends, watching his movies, discussing his career, doing his favorite things. And I think that's a big reason why it felt impossible for me to leave even after he freaking cheated on me. Because having your own independence in any relationship is so important. Outside of just keeping the spark alive, it's also potentially imperative for your safety as a woman. If you stop prioritizing your individual friendships and make all of your friends just couple friends or his friends, who do you turn to? For support when you break up or when maybe he doesn't have the right opinion so you're like, oh, I need a second opinion. Oh wait, I've alienated myself, I don't have any friends anymore. How do you escape something toxic if you feel isolated to that person? How can you even picture a life outside of your partner if you're trapped fully inside of their world? And I'm not even saying sometimes it is intentional. Sometimes you guys, this just happens. And sometimes it's not even a toxic situation. It just creeps up and you all of a sudden look around and you're like, oh my God, we don't interface with anyone anymore. We're just in our own bubble. And not only is it interesting and sexy when your partner has their own life and friends and hobbies going on, but it's also just healthier overall, especially as women in long term relationships. I feel like being in a relationship does not mean the self work just stops. If anything, having a long term partner is actually the perfect springboard to become even more curious and interested in learning more about the world as a who. Because you do have someone to go home and bounce ideas off of it and be like, oh my God, look what I just did. Like, this is so interesting. And then be getting to share with your partner how fun you guys fell in love with each other as separate individuals. So you need to continue to grow separately to keep that excitement and intrigue alive in the relationship. Of course you need to bond, of course you need to have commonality. But if you completely lose yourself in the relationship, it's going to get stale. It's going to get so fucking boring, guys. So let's say you and your partner prioritize time apart and you prioritize new experiences together, right? Amazing. Great. We're on the right track now. We're looking for that final step to make sure that you not only are actually communicating, but you're having good conversations together as long term partners. I think this is a huge key because sometimes, and I think a lot of times there's an imbalance in relationships. A lot of times I feel like you'll look at a couple and you're like, one person is more interested in growing and working on themselves and the other person is kind of stagnant. And that is where it gets so complicated because one person is like, babe, come on, let's go, let's do it. And the other person's like, no, like I don't want to. That's where I think people start to either gain resentment or kind of slowly move apart from each other. And so I think when you're having conversations, even if, let's say you are the one that's going out and being active, the big key to these conversations and keeping them interesting after years of being together is just to start asking each other better questions. And I know that sounds so simple. You're like, oh, no, Alex, no, no, no. Maintaining curiosity about your partner and engaging with them in bids for connection is pivotal to keeping that spark alive long term. Listen, I'm sure all of us have seen that weird trend on TikTok that's like, hey, babe, I saw a bird today. You know what, I need to go do that to Matt tonight. And basically the girls going to the boyfriend being like, babe, I saw a bird today. And then you can kind of decide how much the man is like interested in this woman and what she has to say. Because a lot of the men are like, what the fuck is wrong with you? Or some of them are like, what color was the bird? What kind of bird? It's like, whatever you say, babe, I'm gonna go along with it because I love you and I actually am interested in whatever you're saying. So ideally, your partner hits you with some questions like I just said, like, where did you see the bird? What did it look like? If. And I know this is like dumbest, bare minimum example, but the point is, if they are curious and open to engaging with you on any level of depth, then that opens the floor for more substantial conversation. Let's say you're sitting at dinner in silence, trying to conjure up strength to be like, where do we start tonight, babe? Just hit him with a few open ended questions. It's this simple. You guys, tell me about your workday. Explain your workday to me. What did you do? Tell me about a challenge that you were dealing with at work. Ask about things that you're. Okay, I was going to say genuinely interested in. Maybe you're not genuinely interested in his work, but you're genuinely interested in him and that is his life and that's what he was going through that day. So ask him about it. If all of a sudden you guys have these siloed lives where you've kind of just made it like, we don't want to talk about work together. I feel like a lot of people today in our day and age, like, that's a lot of people's lives. So if you have no idea what's going on in your husband or your wife or Your partner or your boyfriend, girlfriend's work lives, maybe start to ask it. And you don't have to ask if you don't want. Like, if they don't want to talk about the details, totally fine. Did you have a win today at work or what was stressing you out? How can I help you? I'm a sounding board. I'm here. Like, try to let them unpack things with you. Also try to probe them for new stories. Like, even if you have been with this person for what feels like a million years and you know every freckle on their body, you could draw their tattoos. At this point, they're ingrained in your mind. Okay. There are still, I promise you, stories that you have never heard from your partner. With Matt, if we are on a. I, we've been on certain vacations where we're like, okay, we've hit week two and like now we're sitting at dinner and we've been talking all day like, there's not to talk about. I will hit this man with some of the most random questions I can think of. I am digging into the childhood friends. Tell me more about Jeremy. What's going on with him and his wife? What do you think's going on? Okay. And wait, who did you take to prom? No way. Oh, my God, she's stunning. Wait, what did you wear for your. What was your first job? What did you wear for your first day of work? Do you remember? What did your mom pack you for lunch when you were a kid? Wait, no way. What was your favorite song in college? When was the last time you talked to your brother? What's going on with him? What did you guys talk about? Literally, we will just go back and forth asking each other random on those type of nights where we're like, we kind of are out of to talk about. And let me tell you something, it's really fun because there's like a levity to it, but you're also connecting and learning more. Sometimes in the day to day of life, we're so busy with work and family drama and, and finances and friends and family and all that, you don't actually have time to have these dumb, fun conversations. And so I would suggest that you also, when there is silence, it can be a good thing where you're like, oh, my God, wait, babe, we're both kind of like, bored. What a fucking lovely luxury of a concept. Let's have a fun night. Let's play a game. Let's look up a game online and let's sit here and let's ask each other the questions from the game, you know what I mean? It's a privilege almost in moments to get bored with what's going on in the world. Also, I would like to shout out my parents lately because they have been doing this thing once a month that I think is. Was so adorable and cute. And they started it when they were living back in Philly and now they have kept going with it now that they live in la. And they basically signed up for this speaker series. And basically a speaker comes, whether it's someone who has a book or has a project or just has something, like, interesting to say. And then my parents go and it's all over different parts of la and you'll get the email of where the event's going to be. And they go to this speaker series together. I'm crying and picturing them in the car together, like, excited for their speaker series. And then they sit together, hold hands. I made that part up. I don't know if they do that, but I fantasize they're holding hands, they're watching their speaker series, and then they're getting in the car and they go have dinner after and they discuss the speaker. Why is that the cutest thing I've ever heard? Like, my dad is retired recently. Like, they're both acclimating to la. They, they. They have that newness and now it's settling because they've been here for a few months. And their speaker series, their fun little thing that they do together. I'm emo. Like, that's the cutest thing. Okay, so it doesn't take you to be in your 60s to go to a speaker series. If shit's getting stale with Robbie, sign up for the speaker series and get downtown and listen to a lecture about feminism and really see if he can fucking hang with you. Okay? Because maybe also you should be dumping these motherfuckers if they're getting that bored. The point is, find a hobby that you can actually enjoy together that will also be interesting that you can learn about Robbie. Okay? Your partner. I think, just to clarify, because I also know people like, nuance is something we have lost in this world. And people are like, but what if. What? Listen, I get that your partner, most of the times, yes, they should be your best friend, and yes, you should know a ton about them. You should share interests and hobbies, and you should, of course, enjoy spending ample time together. They should be the person you spend the most amount of time with. But you also need to give each other Some space to own people and your own person. Right? The truth is, in a healthy, functioning relationship, silence is not always a bad thing. And I want to be very clear about that. I'm not saying if you're sitting at dinner and there's nothing to talk about, that's always a bad thing. Sometimes after a long, stressful day, nothing actually sounds better than laying on the couch with Matt, leaning back, closing our eyes, and sitting together without saying a damn word. Ah, heaven. Being able to sit fully in silence together can be a sign of how close you are and how relaxed you can feel with each other. But my point today is when silence becomes the only option or it starts to feel lonely, that's when it's a problem. There are going to be silences in your relationship. Some that feel good and some that you wish weren't there. That doesn't mean your relationship is doomed. Also, to clarify, they may just, you know, be a little flag to notice that you need to spend more time doing your own things or trying something new when you're together. Remember, there's a difference between comfort and complacency. But if you two have grown complacent, you don't need to freak over, oh my God, our relationship's over. We're complacent, babe. We've lost it. Time to move on. No, curiosity can easily bring the spark back as long as you are both willing to put the effort in. And that is a huge point. Daddy gang. If he's not willing to meet you there, you have to also look at that. But if he is, great. Ask good questions, try new things and enjoy learning about each other again. And to the TikTok girlies out there that were spiraling about this, report back and tell me if any of this was helpful and worked for you. Let me know if you guys obviously have any more questions about this topic. I think it's a good one, right? And I'm sure a lot of people went through ups and downs during the holidays and all the things and so, yeah, right in. Tell me all of your problems, tell me all your fears and Big Al will try her darndest to solve them for you. So with that, I've got the energy. I think we can go to Paris. I know we haven't been in a while. I want to take you down. I want to put you on a first class flight. I want to bring you to the Maldives. Then we're going to pop over to Japan. Then we're going to swing back over to London and then we're going to land in motherfucking Paris and we're going to do a little something called Questions of the Week. Let's get into it, okay? Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Planet Fitness. Planet Fitness really is that gym with something for everyone. From equipment you're obsessed with to free fitness training to a community that actually feels welcoming, Planet Fitness supports your individual fitness journey. That support starts with the best in class equipment they have plate loaded strength equipment, functional training areas, treadmills, stair climbers, free weights, literally all the works. Everything you need. And with more than 2800 locations, getting a workout in is easy. Plus, most clubs are open 24 hours, so anyone with a busy schedule can still get that sweat in. And memberships starting at just $15 a month is pretty wild. So get strong at Planet Fitness. 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And if you have T Mobile like I do, you won't believe how good staying in can be. Check it out@t mobile.com magenta Status Disclaimer Streaming benefits included while you maintain a qualifying experience beyond plan line Hi Alex, I loved your episode on Medium Friends. I'm dealing with a friendship mismatch and need your take. This girl and I were really close in our early 20s when we lived in D.C. and went out together all the time. But she moved to LA and our dynamic naturally shifted. We still talk regularly but it's surface level and we're in totally different phases now. When she was back in D.C. for Thanksgiving she asked to get dinner which turned into me basically babysitting her all night when she was blacked out at the bar. I don't really drink anymore. And the whole night felt off to me. She kept saying things like she felt heartbroken if she's not at my future bachelorette party. And it made me realize she still sees me as a close friend. I'm completely down to be a medium friend because I do think she is a sweet girl and a good person. But how do I walk this friendship back? Oh, you know, I feel like a lot of times on call her daddy, we have to talk about the pains of long distance. You know, oh, he's so far away, I can't grab him by the neck and kiss him or oh, my friend, so far we've lost touch. This. Ah, sweetie, this is the beauty of a long distance friend. You're like, oh my God, we, we don't see each other as much anymore. We're not as connected. Sorry, Tracy. Sucks to suck. No, I'm just kidding. But like, not really. Like weirdly, it's kind of nice that like you have this person at like an arm's length and you don't have to deal with them on the day to day. And so when bigger moments come up, like a bachelor party or choosing bridesmaids, that's kind of your excuse if she does come to you and you can be like, hey, Tracy, Stacy. Tracy, Rebecca. I don't know, I forget what I said. It's a weird day. Rebecca, Tracy, Stacy, like listen, like I, I love you as a friend. I think just like proximity wise, like we have grown apart because we haven't been able to be as day to day in each other's lives. I still love you and I would love for you, I would assume you want her to come to your wedding or maybe you don't want her at your wedding, then obviously that's gonna, you know, you're gonna have to say that, but I think you can just be truthful that like I think we've grown apart a little bit and I'm totally down to work on our friendship, but I think just like the distance has shifted things. I do think that you though can give her a better idea of this by like take a little bit longer to text back. Maybe don't answer every time she facetimes you. I don't know if this is me being not direct. Like maybe some people would disagree with this. I guess you could just say to her like, hey, I'm dropping you down to the medium friend category, Carol. And that's just how it's going to be. So buck up and I'll see you every time I visit DC and don't. Or wait, is she in dc? You're in la, she's in la. And I won't call you when I'm in la. I don't know. You have to find your rhythm. But if you really feel like this person is so not on your wavelength with regard to your friendship, where, like, she's blacking out and she's being kind of weird, maybe this is kind of like the end of a friendship. And that's, I think, where the difference in. When I talked about medium friendships, where for. You're watching this, obviously go. You can go watch the Medium friendship Sunday session. But I do think that medium friendships do still have a beauty to them. And I worry for you as I'm reading this that I'm like, you're sober, she's getting drunk. You know, it feels like you guys aren't on the same page. And so I'm not saying completely disregard the friendship, but maybe you need to go to a museum together next time. Maybe we're not hitting the clubs, or maybe we're not two tequila shots deep and you're sitting there drinking your fucking spritzer. Like, I'm sober, Debbie, okay? And you're hammered. Like, we're not on the same page. That's really fucking hard as friends. And again, it's like, we don't have that much time as adults. We really don't. And so to actually have someone visiting and you're going and you're putting an effort in and then to leave. There is nothing worse than when you leave after a friend dinner and you're like, I feel horrible. Not only was she not great, I literally just wasted a night. And I know it sounds selfish, but it's like when you become an adult, a night off from work or from life is needed for your mental health. So I wouldn't take that for granted. I think you still can prioritize yourself and still pour into the friendship, but there needs to be a rejiggering of boundaries, and that is okay. That's the biggest sign that needs to happen is because you are. You know, she looks at me like a very different way than I look at her. Perfect time to reset the boundaries. How you go about that, I think, is kind of a personality thing. You could be direct or you can get. Let it kind of wean off. I think sometimes if you're the person in the power position because you don't care as much, you could just start to let it wean off. And then if she comes to you and says something, then you can have a conversation. I don't know. That may be being passive aggressive, but, like, I'm in a weird mood, so I'm not in the mood for confrontation right now. And if you. If you caught me in 24 hours, I may be like, you're gonna sit this girl down. Okay, but right now, girl, fade off into the distance. Okay, question number two. Hi, Alex. My friends and I recently graduated college and moved to the same city. We went to one of the biggest party schools in the nation. And now that we're post grad, it seems like half of my friends are still stuck in college. Despite having real jobs, several of them still go out every night, get blackout drunk, go home with random guys, and try to pressure me into drinking. They literally treat the city like a college campus. I've started to make friends outside of this friend group, but it's hard watching my friends do such immature things. Any advice on what I can do? I'm ready for this next chapter and to leave college behind, but I don't think I'm ready to leave my friends behind. Oh, girl. This is like one of the hardest things because you cannot force your friends to grow up at the same speed as you. And you also have to recognize that they may look at you the way you're looking at them. Like, God, she's not being fun. Like, chill out. We just graduated. Like, we don't have to grow up. We're 22. Like, we still have time. We all like I. So I think it's all perspective based. And I. And I can imagine. Let me empathize with you. I can imagine how lonely it is right now that you are. That is your core group. Those are your people. But you have never felt more disconnected from them. That sucks. And I acknowledge that. I do think, though, if you are pouring into work and you're pouring into maybe not wanting to drink and you're going to yoga classes or you're going to the park on weekends instead, in moments, you have to start to try to find more of a community in the areas of life that are making you feel happy. Because I have a feeling then that you weirdly will either one enjoy your friends on a Saturday and be like, oh, my God, I worked my ass off. I've been doing like, coffees and work sessions with new friends and I've been so stressed and I can't wait actually to go hit up one Oak. Is one Oak still alive? I don't know. I can't wait to go to, you know, Bootsy Bellows. That's definitely closed. I don't know any of these places. I'm saying I can't wait to go to the club and rage my tits off with my friends. And now I actually am excited to take shots with them and to do beer bongs and to have a natty light and just to really, you know, throw up and have a crazy night with them. You know, like, take my top off and shake my tits in the middle of New York City. We're thriving. Like, maybe you need one of those a month and that's the group you can tap into for that. But for the most part, you're now leaning into Carol at work and she's, she's organized and she's going to Staples and she's getting organizers and she's got binders and she's got plans. Finn has plans. You guys remember that from Grey's Anatomy? She's Finn, okay? And you think you want Derek, but you want want Finn right now you want Finn, who's organized and has plans and is there for you and is going to help you grow into the next phase of life. And Derek is the sweet treat that you occasionally bounce back to, but he's not good for you. Okay? If no one has watched Grey's Anatomy on this, you're like, what the fuck are you talking about? The point is, is you have to find a balance. There are people that also have different life situations. There are people that's parents are going to be paying for their apartments to move to this new city and they don't have as many responsibilities as you. Instead of getting angry and upset with your friends. Because the only thing I think that's going to do to you is alienate you. I think you just have to reconfigure your expectations of what you want out of that dynamic and how you love them. You just are growing up and your relationship's gonna look a little different. And as depressing as that sounds, it's only going to be depressing if you just sit there and watch it all fall apart instead of actively starting to reconfigure your life a little bit so you're still getting what you need on the day to day. And so your friends are like, oh, I'm gonna meet my friends where they're at, they're degenerates, they're having fun. You know what, I'll pop in once a month. And I love them to death. Boom. I miss going to Staples, you know, I miss going to Staples, getting a fresh new notepad, maybe buying like something I know I'm never gonna use. Oh my God. Remember those five star like multi pronged organizers? Like you'd have social studies and then you'd have, you know, math. I always wanted to be an organized and then I just never took a note in my life. All right. Oh, that's for another time. Okay, next question. Foreign. GM has exciting ways for you to bet on pro football and new customers can sign up for BETMGM using bonus code CHD to unlock their welcome offer and score up to $1500 back in bonus bets if they don't win their first bet. Daddy Gang get involved this football season. BETMGM and Game Sense remind you to play responsibly. See betmgm.com for terms 21/only. 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But signing up for therapy with Better Help can shine a light on what has been weighing you down and illuminate possibilities for the year ahead. Daddy Gang Better Help handles the initial therapist matching work for you, right? So you just take a short questionnaire to share your needs and preferences. And thanks to Better Help's industry leading match fulfillment rate, they usually get your match right the first time. And if your match isn't the right fit, switching to a different therapist is easy. Let Better Help provide you an unbiased perspective on your life so you can head into the new year taking only what truly serves you. You can't step into a lighter version of yourself without leaving behind what's been weighing you down. Therapy can help you clear space, sign up and get 10 off@betterhelp.com daddy. That's better. H E L p.com daddy call her daddy is brought to you by Shopify. As I go into this new year, I have been so focused on planning for my business. And Shopify, as you guys know, has always been such a huge part of it. New Year's is really the moment. Everyone is reflecting and resetting and writing their story. And January, I feel like is is about turning that energy into action. And Shopify makes that first step easier than ever. You guys know how I feel about Shopify. They have been with me since I left Barstool and I took all my merchandise out on my own and Shopify immediately became my partner and they basically saved my business. So whether you're dreaming of a side hustle that you've wanted to get going or you already have your business, Daddy gang, but you need help. I'm telling you. Shopify is a platform that helps you become who you are meant to be. No more waiting, no more maybes. Shopify's AI tools are an absolute game changer. You literally get your own AI assistant helping you with everything. Editing images, writing content, generating reports, breaking down complex data, giving you ideas. It's literally like having a co founder who's a genius that never sleeps. Okay, Daddy gang. You know it. You want to have this year be the best year yet? Then you know what to do. If 2026 is your year, go to shopify.com daddy and make your move. Guys, things are going off the rails. It's also getting a little hot in here, so I'm sweating, but I have like a nine pound sweater on and I have nothing underneath, so we're not doing that for views today, okay? Hey, Daddy. I'm a junior in college dating a guy who's two years older than me. Let me get one thing straight. I'm a crier and I'm proud. I've always been in touch with my emotions and easily able to communicate about them. The same is not true for my boyfriend. He told me that he's only ever cried once in his life when his dog died seven years ago. Oh, Jesus. Okay, I know men can be less emotional than women, but I find that low key, shocking. Is this a red flag? I mean, crying I don't think is a red or green flag. Like, if he's not crying often, I think it's okay. You know, maybe it just takes a lot to like wind up a tear. You know, maybe his body is just not like, like tick in that way. And especially since you are such a crier. Like, you said, like, you're kind of going based off of, like, the extreme, and he's on the other end of it. So you're really kind of, like, looking for him to be like, what's wrong with you? I think the bigger red flag is, does he express his emotions? I don't give a. If a man is gonna cry, okay? I care if he's unable to tap into his emotions. I care for you that if you're having a vulnerable conversation with him and you're coming to him genuinely wanting to have an honest, open conversation about something in your life that you're struggling with or in your relationship that you want to try to work on, and he's sitting there stone cold Bert. And Bert's like, huh? And you're like. And so I just feel like you don't see me anymore, and we haven't been connecting, and, like, you're never there. Bert. You're always in the video games, you're always in the tech, you're always in the whatever. And Bert's, like, eating the chip. Like, yeah, I see what you're saying, Michaela. And you're like, bert, Bert. You're looking for him to muster up a tear. No, the tear. If anything, the tear could be crocodile tears, performative tears. Bert is all of a sudden gonna realize, oh, you just want a tear. And then I, like, am good for the month that I, like, filled your cup with emotion. But what is he saying? What is the substance? Okay, that's what I think you can focus on, is actually what is this man saying or doing if he is so emotionally in tune, which I'm. I'm gathering what the. Who the. Are we kidding? I'm gathering this motherfucker's not. Because now that I'm thinking about it, if this man was holding your hands and able to meet you in the highest EQ capacity, this man's emotional intelligence is off the roof. It's off the charts. This man should be studied. This man should go in to be a therapist because he's. He is. He. He's in it with you. We're. We're locked in. He's one on one. He's, like, in that. With you, you wouldn't be writing in, right? So I can feel. Michaela, you've got your answer. What you're not missing that he's not crying, and that's not what freaking you out. You're lacking emotional connection and depth. And here's what I will say, because I'm In a weird mood today. And you know what? Again, ask me in 24 hours and I may have a different opinion. But the hard truth I think I will tell every woman and man, I guess is I don't personally believe that emotional intelligence and depth is something that will significantly or even at all be gained during the course of you in a relationship with someone. I think if you meet someone on a date and you're like, I, everything's great. I just don't know if like, his like, emotional intelligence is there or like, yeah, he's like, if like the emotionally we connect on the like, deeper, like EQ level. I hate to break it to you because I recognize there's potentially a lot of women out there because trust me, I've been in that relationship where like, no, he's gonna grow. Growing is different than like, emotionally being intelligent, emotionally being in tune, emotionally being able to like, like, regulate and recognized when someone needs you to be comforting them and recognizing, oh, this dynamic is happening. I'm going to actually provide very, like, emotionally sound advice because I'm an emotionally intelligent person. If you are dating someone that you're like, I just don't feel like it's there. I don't think it's ever going to get there. Now the, the outliers could be. They have trauma and they just needed to get into therapy to break through that and to like, work through dissociation and to work through the like, suppression of the emotions that they have not acknowledged for their whole life. And now once it's all coming up, they're now able to actually now start to self regulate where they can participate in conversations like this. But my fear is that is like one of a million. If you do not think your boyfriend is emotionally intelligent enough, that's never going to change. And so you have to make a decision for yourself. Then if you are happy with a relationship that you may need to be going to more outside people in your life for emotional support and advice. When you are going through something emotional with a parent or something, you may not feel like you're ever getting the answers from your boyfriend. And it's not even like we need answers from them. We just need someone to like, be able to regulate and be like, yes, I understand you. I see what you're saying. I think in this moment, this obviously happened and you're feeling this way because of this. If your boyfriend can't do that for you and he's like, yeah. Oh God, okay, so are we like still gonna go to their house for dinner? On Friday. And you're like, I don't know, Frederick. I don't know if we're going on fucking Friday because I just told you that my mother brought up my fucking eating disorder again. That she has fucking been enabling since I was 5 years old. And I'm struggling because I can't look my mom in the fucking face because I want to rip her fucking face off. And how that makes me feel is so infuriated. And he's like, oh, so should we not do dinner? Should we just do drinks? And you're like, oh, my fucking God. And then you're like. Like, do you even know I struggle with this? And he's like, well, I've, like, sometimes seen you, like, at dinner. Like. Like, move your foot. And you're like, oh, my God. That is never going to change, girlfriend. You are never, ever, ever, ever going to feel emotionally held, supported, and seen by someone who does not have that on day one. I'm sorry. I would love people in the comments to argue with me because I think EQ is one of those things that you're born with. And then, yes, you can build it, but it ain't easy and it ain't quick. It's gonna take a long time. This could be 70, okay? And the light bulb just goes off when he's 70. Do you want to wait till 70 to have him recognize and see you for all you're worth? Ditch Frederick and hit up Josh. Okay, okay, Josh. I can see it now. Josh has got the wisdom. Josh has got the IQ and the eq. Josh is cruising. Frederick is a loser. Okay, guys, something's in the air today. Foreign. Listen up, Daddy Gang. Pause whatever situation, ship drama you're spiraling about, because I need to put you on to something that is going to drastically improve your quality of life. Yes, if you have not been to funlove.com this is your sign, okay? It is the place for premium pleasure toys, lingerie and everything. You need to stop accepting the bare minimum in the bedroom, okay? You're getting curated quality, grownup products that do what they promise. No surprises, no weirdness, no disappointment. You know, you want a little suction. Hey, you know what? They've got it, okay? You want something that bends, rotates, and knows your body better than your ex ever did. Baby, they've got options, okay? Daddy Gang. Their site is easy to shop, fast shipping, and the packaging is discreet. So your mailman doesn't know know you're freaky. Unless you decide you want to tell him that. Okay? Whether you're a beginner, a throat goat professional, or somewhere in the middle, there is something for everyone. So if you've been waiting for a sign to upgrade your nightstand. Yeah, this is it. Go to funlove.com and use code daddy for 30 off. Listen, I know it's freezing out there. I know the sun is setting atrociously early. I get it, okay? But hear me out. Just because you have to throw on a couple extra layers does not mean you can't live your best lives and crack a few claws with your friends. Do you hear me, Daddy gang? Okay? That means snuggling up in a booth at your favorite dive bar, warming up in the crowd of an epic concert, or having your friends over to watch sports. Listen, seriously, the best winter nights are really just about doing something together. And guess what I'm going to be holding when I'm doing that? A claw. Thank you, white claw. I have stocked my entire drink fridge, my bevy fridge, with white claws, because I know it is a surefire way to have everyone getting whatever they want because you got all the flavors and then some. So, daddy gang, you know the drill. Pick up a pack from your favorite local spot and grab life by the claw with your favorite flavor this winter. Please drink responsibly. Hard seltzer with flavors White Gloss Seltzer Works, Chicago, Illinois. I think that's it for today. I think the more I keep going, I'm gonna start spiraling. I'm kind of, like, running on no sleep. And this energy drink is, like, making me feel alive. And I'm like, let's go. But I also want to be, you know, realistic about my advice to you guys because I always want to keep it real. Also, if I, you know, didn't answer some of your questions this week, I have so many more that are coming every Sunday session. Please write in and send in your questions. I think the overall arch topic for today was growth. Yeah, it's growth. It's from the beginning of this episode, talking about, like, wanting to grow, wanting to be a better person, wanting to learn, actually having, like, an. Like, an interest in the world and yourself and your partner and life is so important. And when you feel like you're getting stagnant, that's a bad thing. But it doesn't mean it's the end of the world. But if then you try to progress and be a better person and a better version of yourself and learn more about the world and experiences in yourself and your partner is holding you down, I think that's something that you need to look inward at, because life is only going to get more boring. Like, as you get older. There's less to do, right? There's more sitting around. So you better be really happy with the person that you're sitting around with. Okay, well, I love you guys. Again, Shameless Plug. Unwell Energy is officially at Target. I don't know if you guys have seen my. My little marketing push for this. I basically have, like, been making these insane short videos that I got to put wigs on, and it's basically like, everything I could have dreamt of as a kid. Getting budget to just, like, play with wigs and dress up. And I had so much fun with the campaign. And Unwell Energy is officially out now. And I totally understand that probably a lot of women watching this have been drinking Aulani New or Celsius. And I get it, I get it. But unfortunately, I need to on them for a second. You don't want to put sucralose in your body, which is chlorinated sugar. It's disgusting, and it's horrible for you, and you're probably closer to getting cancer than getting energy. So drink Unwell Energy because we have no sucralose in it. We have no artificial flavors. This is Big Al's got you covered, baby. So drink up. Go to Target. And I love you guys, and happy Sunday session. This is going to be a good year. This is going to be a good year for us. I can feel it. I feel like even the way that you guys are writing questions, I feel like it's so fun when you start to be like, I think I kind of know the answer, but I just wanted to ask father really quickly, and I'm like, oh, you didn't need me me. You knew exactly who that is. You read him to filth, and you now just wanted me to, like, you know, memorialize it in a podcast that you could be like, I was right. You guys always know. It's always in our gut. A woman's intuition is never wrong. I think what's beautiful about Sunday Sessions and what we've done here is, like, getting to talk through things that maybe you're sitting and you're ruminating on by yourself is extremely important that. That I want to be there for you guys because, trust me, a lot of the you guys write in. The reason that I'm able to respond is because I've also personally been through it. And so I love you guys so much. And you know the drill. I will see you on Wednesday. Goodbye. When the flu is keeping you up at night, don't try to tough it out. Knock out your flu symptoms with NYQUIL Intense Flu. You got this. It provides powerful relief of your flu symptoms so you can sleep well through the night. NYQUIL Intense Flu the nighttime Sniffling, aching, aching fever. Best sleep with a flu medicine. Use as directed. Keep out of reach of children. Hey everybody, it's Babs from Brunch with Babs. And do I have a tip for you. If you share my passion for classic style and joyful living, you're gonna love Birch Lane. Their timeless furniture and decor is carefully crafted to bring joy to your home for years to come, just like the memories of you make there. Plus, it's delivered fast and free. Shop my hand picked Birch Lane Collection and more classic styles@birchlane.com.