Yeah I’m pretty far down the comments here and am just dumbfounded, as a 40+/m. I’m married, so maybe my perspective is skewed, but I’m anxious, introverted, and also don’t feel like dating would be that much of a challenge if I found myself in that scene again.

For one, rejection isn’t personal. They’re doing me a favor if they decline or ghost me because I’m not going to waste more time on that relationship. I figured that out in my early 20s. I may need a couple weeks or months between because I don’t have an abundance of social energy, but it’s not that big of a deal either.

And then having hobbies is a great way to meet like-minded people. The more people you encounter with similar interests, the more likely you’ll encounter someone with whom you may connect on another level.

I thought I was one of the most socially inept people I know, but I can’t relate to what I’m reading here. Maybe we need to work on our personal boundaries more and understand ourselves better before we’re pursuing relationships.