So I am sure I am one of many, who struggle with relationships. I barely ever dated which was a bit embarrassing as an almost 23 year old. Growing up as an only child, I found calmness in being on my own, and often preferred it. So to see myself being that intimate with another person genuinely scared me and often made me push guys away to keep any of those awkward moments at bay.
This year however, life was lifing. Got hit by an uninsured driver a couple weeks after I turned 22 back in February. My car was a total loss so I poured my savings into a brand new model of the car I had, only to be let go from my job two weeks later. Lost a couple pets along the way as well. All of it came with a LOT of stress, especially for someone who despises change, and a hell of a lot of character growth. I grew much more confident in myself, and finally felt like I was ready to make that big scary step in relationships. Another issue however was online dating. I have had very similar experiences that ive seen on here where there's no spark, and often times the conversations are very dry and end of feeling forced.
All that is to say, I was on the struggle bus. Often times the guys I did go on dates with seemed to want me to fit into a mold that I refused to be shaped into. I wanted someone to fit into my life without feeling like I needed to change what I am. Come September, a friend wanted to exchange my number with a guy she had tattooed. She said he was basically the male version of me. The only thing that put me back a little, was that there was a ten year age gap between us, him being 32.
He messaged me first, and the conversations were flowing like a goddamn waterfall. By our first date, it all felt so easy. And he made me feel so completely safe. We started officially dating on September 5th, and since then, he's met some of my family, we've gone to Vegas together, I've met a couple of his siblings, and are trying to plan a trip to Italy next year since he used to live there while in the Navy.
He remembers the most minute details I say in passing, and he chooses on his own accord to go to my horse stuff since he knows it's such a big part of my life. It genuinely makes me so mushy knowing thay he does things not because he has to, but because he wants to. He wants to support me and I was fully prepared to keep thay part of my life separate since most men I know aren't really interested in it. He makes me laugh, and half the time we're goofing off or watching horribly rated movies for fun. We both want the same things in life, and have very identical beliefs which is genuinely such a breath of fresh air.
Crazy to think I almost said no to giving him my number, because I 100% would still be a single Pringle right now.
Just wanted to share as a break from a lot of the negative experiences I've seen on here. If little introverted me can finally break the barrier, I have hope for a lot of you as well