From the archive

You're defending it because you've already spent five years on it

Then there are the spectators. You told everyone what a wonderful choice it was. Defended it over dinner, argued with friends, explained why they didn't understand. Now leaving feels like publicly admitting they were right. Maybe someone really will say, “I told you so.” They'll experience this extraordinary high point of their life and go eat dinner. You'll still be living with the consequences of your decision. Personally, I wouldn't trade several more years just to deny some asshole fifteen pleasant seconds.