this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2023
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[–] [email protected] 66 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (6 children)

Various reasons over the years:

  • Don't want to risk making the workplace unpleasant (twice)
  • Wrong race that would upset my parents (twice)
  • Lives too far away (twice)
  • Age gap (once)
  • Me being exposed to porn at a very young age (first time I was 3 or 4, and I grew up with unsupervised internet access) gave me a completely broken sexuality and I don't want to bring other people into this mess
  • Feeling inadequate, ugly or uninteresting (I used to be very fat so you can imagine how I grew up)
  • Feeling that my interest in the other person is not genuine and that I only see her as a sexual object

In the end, I'm 32 and single, my friends are getting married and starting their own families and I have this dreadful feeling that I missed out on something important in life, I drown this feeling in work, video games and all sorts of projects, but when I'm alone and I can't think of anything to do and I start thinking about the future, I want to kill myself.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago

It's never too late, man. Get therapied up, and you got a whole life ahead of you. My grandmother didn't remarry until 76, and she's been married 16 years already.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

I’d so sorry to hear that. Stay strong brother, my thoughts are with you!

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wrong race that would upset my parents

Your parents aren't going to date your partner, so their opinions on her race mean absolutely nothing. It's like going to a restaurant with a friend and they tell you you can't order salmon because they don't like it. It's not their food, so what they say doesn't matter since they're not eating it.

Feeling that my interest in the other person is not genuine and that I only see her as a sexual object

This felt a little too real to read. I know that feeling, and it's not nice. I got no advice here, just letting you know you're not alone in feeling it.

I have this dreadful feeling that I missed out on something important in life

The best part about life is that you get to define what's important to you. Some people may find meaning in having a family, but it's not the only objective way of finding meaning/purpose. You could find joy in creating things, exploring the world, even just working. There's no secret formula or shortcut to finding it, and there's definitely no hard rules about what it can be. I hope this helps you feel better.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Your parents aren’t going to date your partner, so their opinions on her race mean absolutely nothing

Thank you. I am Filipino and have experienced racism my entire life living in the US and growing up in the south. I wasn't sure what to say but when I see comments like not dating someone of a specific race - obviously its enraging.

You're completely right. Her race does not matter and parents get no say in who you date as an adult.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Please don't. Seek help. You're not alone.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

My 90-yo stepfather skyped me recently to introduce me to his new girlfriend. She's 69, younger than me! It's never too late. And you are really young, lol.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I’m 37 and am just now starting to have some of the best sex of my life. Still single, but feeling more and more confident in myself and seeing major changes in how I approach my own sexuality, what a relationship is, and what I would want out of one.

Therapy was paramount.

There is no shame in getting help for yourself. Get the help you need and take time doing it. Confidence adds to sexiness.