Is She... The One?

Photo by Sheri Hooley on Unsplash

Dear Miss Cynthia, I've been dating my girlfriend for about 4 years and I feel she is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, but I'm young (26). I still have a wandering eye, even though I've never cheated on her. I don't want to cheat on her but before I make that next step with a possible proposal, I feel I want to explore and date so I know that it's with her I want to spend for the rest of my life with. How can I explain this to her without hurting her feelings or her feeling like I don't want to be with her? -Scrambled Heart Dear Scrambled Heart, I have a philosophy, the 8 season rule, which is, do not make any long term commitments unless you have been with a person for at least 8 seasons, or 2 years. You have gone well beyond the 8 season rule! You have been together for 4 years. You have grown up together, and not apart! You have had your ups and downs, ins and outs, etc. Relationships, 99% of the time, start out great. Like I stated, it usually takes 2 years to find out what a person is really like! Realistically, in order to find out if someone is better than the woman you are with currently, you would have to have a long term relationship with several, only to find out you already found Miss Right! Remember, the grass always LOOKS greener in someone else’s yard, and it never is! I can't promise things will never change, but if she is not controlling and is sincere, loving, and faithful, and so far has been everything kind and good, you are one of the few lucky ones. You have found a winner right off the bat! Congratulations! Also, I would like to add she has really scored with someone such as you! If you continue to feel you are missing something, you are not ready for a permanent commitment, so do not make one. If you do, you will always be looking back thinking, I woulda, shoulda, coulda! If this feeling continues, then there is only one thing left to do, be honest with your girlfriend, but be aware, this is very dangerous!