Today the Pop Culture Gods are weeping (and so are we). As many of you should know by now, one of the most influential and prominent couples of our day and age are making like bananas and splitting. Angelina Jolie Pitt is filing for divorce to put a sad end to our “#goals” of a marriage with Brad Pitt. Yes, you heard (or read?) me correctly. Now even though this news is quite upsetting and utterly shocking for most “Bradgelina” fans, Angelina’s reasoning behind all of this speaks on all different levels.

When you’re young and in love, you tend to be blinded by some “quirky” or “eccentric” personality traits. At the time you might think these characteristics are okay but later on, you as you grow with the person, you have to decide whether these once endearing behaviors benefit you in any sort of way. If these qualities hurt you more than they help your relationship flourish, then I say you may have a problem on your hands.

In a previous relationship of mine, I didn’t think anything of these qualities. I assumed those were simply just personality traits of my ex-boyfriend and nothing could change that. He had compared me to his glass of whiskey and at the time, that was the best compliment I had ever received from him; because nothing could come in between him and his Jack Daniels on the rocks. Now that I look at that “compliment”, I realize how terrible that analogy actually is. The substance was addictive in his case. Alcohol was his drug of choice (along with cigarettes and me, I guess).

In my case, I didn’t leave him. I thought he could change. I thought I wanted to spend my life with him... booze, cigarettes, late nights spent at his favorite bar and all. I thought I could change him and help him get over this block in the road. I believe everything happens for a reason. Therefore, I will never actually regret our toxic relationship. Though, I wish I would have been the one to end it. It would have saved me A LOT of pain and I probably would have been a much happier person than what actually ended up happening.. but that’s a story for a different article.

In Brad and Angelina’s case it is slightly different. Her reasoning for leaving him was in fact, substance abuse. This consists of alcohol and marijuana. Along with his alleged use of these substances emerged supposed anger issues. This greatly affected how he treated their 6 children, assuming he did not treat them in any sort of a positive way. Luckily, Angelina saw that and decided that if she did not leave now, things would definitely take a turn for the absolute worse. She has full physical custody over their 6 kids; leaving Brad with only joint legal custody. Inevitably, our girl Angie is ALREADY getting a ton of hate for leaving him and just putting a complete stop to their 12-year relationship. Things that I have heard today ALONE include: “She could change him,” “He could get counseling or rehab and get better and become a better father!”, and “What is wrong with her?!”

Now I’m not saying that some of those weren’t options that possibly could help their situation, but I believe that Angelina took the high road in this case and she definitely should not be ridiculed for making the choice that she did. No woman or man should have to go through a relationship that is ruled by substance abuse. If you, my dear reader, find yourself in a relationship like this, think about all of your choices first and think about the long run. How will this person be when you two eventually get married? How will they act around your possible children? You need to be selfish in that type of relationship. You DO NOT deserve to be in this type of relationship. Don’t be afraid of the heartbreak and the thought of being alone- act on it. Remember you are not the reason they are like this. Do not blame yourself. Don’t let the substance control your relationship like it has controlled your significant other.