It feels too late to have meaningful romantic relationships.
As silly as that may sound, perhaps I am being pessimistic. That is a possibility, but I always felt like over our earlier years we sort of build up or gain a semi understanding of relationships in some capacity. Even if they happen to not work out all that well, but me now midway through my twenties it makes me realize that I lack that experience.
Perhaps I could get it at some point, but it feels like it would be difficult given my lack of much experience. The expectation especially is for me to take the first step, something I am not sure if I am completely capable of to be honest and I would hate to be embarrassed for not knowing certain things.
@UnsungTangerine
I would agree you sound a little bit pessimistic.
Believe it or not, I met the love of my life being 40+. Yes, I know, it was late - but better late than never 😊
May I ask you how would you define experience? Is it some kind of certainty that you are born with, or does it take a lot of trying?
I believe it is not embarrassing to not know anything... But it could be embarrassing not to ask questions. Especially nowadays, it seems that people grow and learn through their entire lives.
@jacek73 The motions of dating and knowing how to do so. I would say that I haven't quite grasped that yet. Although anything can happen really.
Maybe it's just lack of confidence.
@UnsungTangerine
I think that going to a date is always like sailing the uncharted waters. It is like discovering a new world, with some risk, but also with a lot of surprises.
What I am trying to do in such circumstances is being myself as far as possible. Not telling the story of my entire life in one evening (to not let the other person to be overwhelmed, bored or too much in control). I think it is about how you feel with this person: excited, smiling, safe, or maybe insecure or bored? Being reasonably cautious, but not overly cautious, is important.
I believe it is good to be aware of some red flags. For example, when I was to go on a date with a woman, but she got too drunk the day before to leave her bed, my definite "NO" about meeting her at all was as huge as a mountain.
Another example, seeing my partner being rude to a waitress makes me think the person can be as rude to me soon, and it is just a matter of time.
But coming back to more optimistic things 😊 What I really like in the world of nowadays is the fact that it's socially accepted for a woman to show some interest in a man, or even asking him for a date, without being stupidly accused of being "too easy".
I know many people who have had their first relationships in their 30's or 40's or even later. It's very possible, and a lot of people are very ok with having an inexperienced partner as long as they have a willingness to learn and grow.
I actually made a post about this on reddit for my friend who is in a similar position but in their 30's, a subreddit dedicated to romance books, if you are interested in reading about it, https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/1gum515/recs_for_very_wholesome_cr_w_extremely/
@UnsungTangerine I gave up dating at 25, I've survived fine, too much work for too much heartbreak, much less stressful alone