Being 25, it sucks. I've had a few serious relationships, was engaged even. In short, I've not been single in 10ish years, and the last 8 or so months of being single has probably been the longest since school...

But am I too old now for this lark? At 26 in March, most of my friends are married. Most have kids. Then there’s me, unlucky in love, always picking the wrong person, and I just feel like wow... I'm 26... Why am I not married? Where’s the family I was planning on starting?

They say you’re never to old to fall in love, that you’re never too old to start a family... So why do I have this huge hole in my heart that the ex left, that makes me feel that maybe this is it... This is as good as it gets for me, and that my happy days are all but over...?

What hurts more is that most of my friends that are married are just not romantic... I have to sit watching them treat the wife like some kind of toy, arguments when food isn't made, lazy days where they do nothing and expect the other half to clean up after them, not a hint of romance... Then there’s me, who believes in romance, believes in sharing stuff like that, believes in cooking for the other half, or helping out. In my last relationship of three years, I think she took my romantic side for granted, because I never saw the same feelings back, very rare... Back rubs every night, running bathes, cooking tea, just being thoughtful? Saying small things like I love you at random times... None of my friends do this. My best friends been married about three years, and I honestly don't think I've ever heard him say "I love you"...?

Is that where I went wrong? Treat them mean, keep them keen? Walk all over them...? I dunno, I just can't seem to be the "bad boy"...
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"Maybe it's not my weekend... But it's gonna be my year "
Gav, 26, Telford - Teacher/Games Designer

Don't you dare change! there are many young women that will love you for the way you are, so be who you are. 26 isn't too old, it's just harder to meet people when you're single amongst couples and those that don't treat their wives well probably won't keep them as long as they expect. Being around couples enhances your feelings of being single, so may be join a club, class or activities where you're more likely to meet single people with common interests.
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http://arisingmoon.deviantart.com/gallery/#-Fantasy-Art-
http://myriad28.spaces.live.com/

Dude, you sound just like me!

Since leaving school I'd guess at being single for maybe a year altogether. I'm now 26. My ex recently left me because her 'feelings changed'.

I'd do the same things you describe. Cook, clean, hug her, tell her I love her, be romantic, randomly bring home flowers every now and then, get her favourite bar of chocolate when I go to the shop. Little things like that. She's a natural flirt too, just like me and I never got angry if I saw her flirting. Never went further than dropping a few sexual innuendos so I was cool with that. Gave her freedom. Acted as her taxi driver for four years even when taking her to and from her job put another 100 miles on the clock each day (and that was before and after I was at work too).

You bend over backwards, put them first, do all you can to make them happy. But get nothing back. I often felt it was a complete one way street. To the point where I often wondered what the hell I was doing. But love is blind as they say. Some people just aren't romantically inclined. Maybe that's what it was. But I can see where you're coming from.

I've come on this site and not really had any luck to be honest. I don't think I'm so ugly nobody will find me attractive, there's gotta be someone out there. I've even filled in EVERY question to the point my profile is now more of a book than a profile. I'm just putting myself out there completely. I figure if someone sees my picture, reads all about me and then contacts me, we're off to a good start because they have an idea what I'm all about. Doesn't seem to work though.

I've decided though that after being in the same relationship for years I need to take time to get my mind and my heart in the right place so I can put it all out there for someone again. If I jumped into a relationship now it would be nothing short of reckless. That ain't really my style.

But anyway... don't change who you are mate. You sound like a diamond. =) Someone will come along one day and they'll treat you how you deserve to be treated.

Lastly, don't worry too much about the wife and kids bit. You're 26. You're young. My Dad was 36 when I came along and my Mum was 34. Let's face it, just think how complicated things would be now if you did do the whole marriage and kids thing with your ex. When you find the right person you'll know it's time. =)

Peace.

You know, I really don't want to change. I like me, I like being who I am. I like the fact I'm not embarrassed to show somebody love, attention or affection. I really do enjoy being that way. I have my own life, my own friends and know what’s over the top, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna change into some hard arse idiot just to blend in with the rest of the sheep.

The trouble is, around here, unless you enjoy "pimping your ride", have a faux hawk and show off your amazing six pack, women just don't wanna know. And that’s the issue... I go out, and I look around, and I see the same person, over and over... Everybody looks the same. Even the women do it, they wear the same stuff, hair the same way...

I guess I'm just over emotional. My first valentines single in a DECADE... That’s bad... I dunno what I miss more. The company, or just having somebody to text "I love you x" too when I feel like it... Shropshire is a bad place to be right now for me
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"Maybe it's not my weekend... But it's gonna be my year "
Gav, 26, Telford - Teacher/Games Designer

Hi! now where's all the young women who keep telling us they just want a decent guy???... there's two here
I tried to sign your guestbook with a greeting but the writing vanished and you've ended up with a mugshot instead
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http://arisingmoon.deviantart.com/gallery/#-Fantasy-Art-
http://myriad28.spaces.live.com/

To be fair though buddy, if women aren't interested if you don't conform to that 'style' then are they really worth worrying about?

Everyone wants their partner to be nice to look at. That's one of the basics of attraction. But that's obviously not all there is to it. You seem like a pretty smart bloke and I'm sure you don't just look for a slim waist and big tits. I often tell people that when I meet a girl, looks are secondary. I go for personality. Looks fade with time, things sag, get bigger, get smaller, wrinkle, whatever. Personality tends to remain the same though.

I've often had people come up to me and ask me why I'm with a certain person, "Ah you can do much better than that mate" etc etc. I say go F yourself. I see what's inside and in my eyes, if the inside is beautiful, the outer 'imperfections' don't mean a thing. To be quite honest as well, I'm more into the whole 'Dove Real Beauty' than the skinny girl on the shampoo advert with perfect skin and long flowing shiny hair. When I met my ex she looked breath taking. She was a size 18-20. When we split she'd dropped to a size 10-12. Thing is, although I noticed the changes, I still thought she was just as beautiful as the girl I fell in love with. (My God I'm a soppy lil bitch sometimes) lol

I don't really know what I'm trying to say either. I guess my point is be yourself, love yourself and if someone doesn't want to love you for who YOU are, it's really their loss and they don;t deserve your attention.

Bleh... I dunno. I'm done ranting now though... who's next?

Peace.

Hold on a minute.... are you too old at 26? All your friends are settled down??? Well im 28 and have a mixture of friends that are settled down or single, but friends that are in relationships still go out with the girls and i dont class myself to old, well i didnt until now! ha ha!!!

But i suppose it depends what your looking for, im in no hurry to settle down for a mixture of reasons but also cos i dont feel 28, i love being single, love time to myself and love going out!

I think as you have not been out of a relationship for long, you should enjoy being single, get all your male friends and go out for a night. This is a time that you should be enjoying cos you will meet someone and if your lucky you will spend many many years with them! Yes there are many plus sides to being in a relationship but their is also many plus sides to be single!

Stop thinking you want to find someone and start think that you want enjoy this time and i guarantee you will find someone when you least expect it!

I agree with missjb, you two guys have been in a relationship for most of your life's, you feel lost now you's are single.
You dont have to be a couple to be complete, enjoy life, be happy with your single self, learn to be just you. Once your happy with yourself as a single person not dependent on another for happiness, you will find the love your looking for and deserve, first you need to get to know you!!!

I know this as i was married for 19 years(married young)it took me a year to get used to being me and not part of a couple,when your in along term relationship,you become one and lose yourself, guys find yourself first before another relationship, and have fun doing it
Ax

I agree with most of the above. Don't try and change to suit some fashion, because it won't really be you. Just get out-and-about and involved in the things you like doing. (Unless it's fishing! ) If the things include the possibility of meeting someone, so much the better. It'll happen! The belief is important.

If you think 25 is bad... What about 65!

I wondered if maybe it was that halo you are looking at in your photo?
That could put people off, you know.
Maybe the girls, seeing that, and all think, 'God! This guy is an angel! He's too good for me,' and wander off in shock!
Maybe you could leave that at home?

Hello and welcome to me2shy!
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Give me golf clubs, fresh air and a beautiful partner, and you can keep the clubs and the fresh air.
(Jack Benny)

I've only been out of the four year relationship for a month now so I know that I need time to get myself sorted before I put myself out there again. Being single does have it's positives, but nothing compares to being part of a couple. That's just my personal preference I guess. I don't need someone to complete me, I want someone to compliment me, if you see what I mean. I guess I could get a lot of what I'm looking for out of a good friendship, sharing stuff, having fun, someone to talk to, etc.

If somebody comes along who I want more with then that's just a plus. But I'm not going out of my way to find someone now. Even on my profile I put that I'm looking for nothing but friendship and having a good time... at the moment anyway.

I dunno... but I do know I've got burgers to cook! MmMmMmmmmm burgers rule!

Peace.

PS

If anyone does fancy a chat feel free to drop me a line... and don't worry ladies, I'm not the 'wanna see my brain and talk about love' type. lol.... and OMG them kind of guys p**s me off so bad. I could rant about that for hours.... but BURGERS!!! WOOOOOOO! =)

To old? Been on my own now for 8 years.Im 57 and know myself inside out.It dosent help to attract the opposite love.Basically women are spoiled for choice. Single men outnumber them 2 or 3 to 1 on these sites.Therefore the ladies can pick and choose. Yes as an older man i may strike it lucky,but i wont hold my breath.Dosent stop me trying though, glutton for punishment i suppose.There again if you dont try you dont get.

You're no too old, people date nowadays into their 80/90's

Most of my mates that were in relationships 25 years ago, have split up now. So you will probably see a lot of that.

You wont have a lot of problem..there's loads of women about Just stay confident.

I know what you mean! I'm 35, divorced and still have no kids... Sometimes I think like "when is my life gonna start?" or "is it already too late?"... But then I try to change my focus to a positive view and so I start feeling better again...
Remember that you're ONLY 26 and full of life energy! (even when you don't feel it sometimes!!!)

Take it easy, babe!!! I'm trying to do the same...
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Get a taste of religion! Lick a witch!!!

Sounds like Canada needs some of you UK men....where have you guys been all my life!? . 26 is not too old, and no one ever said you have to find a partner and settle down before 30 or you're going to die alone.

smh... complainin ur too old when only in ur mid 20s is serious signs of insecurity!


i'll be young forever!!!
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francine needn some attention
wilma givn that thank u smooch
ha no im not pinchin lois' tig ol bitties
betty wonderin how the marry she ended up here