Ariyah Jaylaha month agoI’m a 26-year-old guy, and I feel like I’m having a midlife crisis when it comes to love. I’m starting to realize that I may have messed up my chances at love by not focusing on it earlier. Now, I’m terrified of the idea of dying alone. Growing up, I fell for a few people, but my feelings were never reciprocated. I decided to suppress my emotions during college, thinking it was better to focus on academics and grades. I was always the leader in clubs, supporting my peers, but I wish I’d joined a fraternity. I hesitated because I felt intimidated and worried about not having a car or being able to provide for someone, which seems foolish in hindsight. After COVID, I’ve spent the last few years working on myself, but I’ve had no romantic experiences, and it’s starting to weigh on me. I’ve looked up some statistics about relationships and feel like I’m part of a small group of people my age who’ve never had a partner. It makes me feel like I’ve failed at something crucial. Recently, I was talking to a girl I met online, and I was honest about not having any past partners. That vulnerability felt like a huge mistake, and it’s triggered this spiral of sadness and anxiety. What do I do from here? Do I just keep trying to meet someone new? I feel so discouraged, like I’m already running out of time at 26. I’ve even started making a New Year’s resolution list for self-improvement, but I’m not sure if those goals are for me or if I’m just desperate to attract someone. The thought of ending up alone, like my aunt who’s still single in her 50s despite trying, is really scary.134
Ariyah JaylahAriyah Jaylah