All, well at least most, parents worry for their children because they love them. Both my mom and my dad's dying words to me were to go and live my dreams and fulfill every last thing I wanted for my life. I was by my mother's side when she died, I was very young. A few years later, it was my father, with the exact same last words. One difference. Before he died an opportunity had come up for me to literally leave home and start those dreams. The pride and happiness on his face that his son was going to begin his own life I think was the best gift I could give him. I took that opportunity and left, but wasn't with him before he died. I left my sister too, who is perfectly well off on her own. I have no regrets and I know, from them and the rest of what's left of my family, that I abandoned no one. I did what was right for me as well as what my parents wanted most for me. However, one person in particular in my life, a very good person, keeps telling me that I did abandon everybody and constantly repeats it. They repeat over and over, like a broken record, that that I abandoned my family and friends and thus I'm an asshole, even though it's for an opportunity that literally is a once in a life time shot. I seriously don't think that way, but the longer I hear it, the more I feel like I'm being guilted into it thinking that I'm a bad human being. It angers and hurts me. My family is not the type to say I love you or show love through togetherness -- in fact, we are very individualist, goal-oriented free spirits. This is my life and I want to live it the way I want, but did I wrong people over my choice?!