I’m 36, and while my love life has been varied and interesting, over the last few years I’ve started to want to settle down. I know it doesn’t happen overnight. But recently it’s been weighing on me more and more. I reminisce about past relationships. I feel hopeless about meeting someone in the future who shares my values.
On the one hand you hear things like “happiness comes from within”, but on the other we are social animals and 99% of us want to feel loved and to love.
I didn’t start to settle down until 34. Got married at 38. I have a dog, so I never experienced the loneliness others did when single. I am genuinely happier with someone, but it was always about putting myself out there. Dating was almost as bad as job hunting on the apps. I sympathize with anyone doing it that way. Otherwise, keep putting yourself out there via your hobbies and it’s more likely to happen.
That said, you could do everything right and still fail. This is why you should own a shelter dog and you will always know true love :D.