Starting Over.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I'd be starting over after being married for 24 years. I really hate the whole dating process. You put yourself out there in a some what awkward position to sell yourself to a person you have never met before. First impressions can either lead to a second date, or you may never hear from them again. I never dated before I was married, so after my divorce I didn't really know how to meet or approach men. I met my ex husband when we were in our teens, another awkward stage in life, but I must say we hit it off immediately. We were inseparable from that day on. Sometimes I wish there was a boyfriend store you could go to, browse the aisles, pick which guy you thought would be a perfect match and bring him home. Well, maybe not my home at first, but you know what I mean.

 What to talk about can only involve the life you lived with your ex, and who wants to hear about that? I never really realized how hard it would be to meet single men, but at my age most of them are married or in long term relationships. The ones that are single usually become friends because there is no chemistry between us. Dating after a long marriage can be a little strange because most men later in life are set in their ways. So you either put up with their bad habits or stay single for the rest of your life. Starting over later in life can be much more complicated than when you were younger. There is so much more baggage you both have to deal with. I mean lets face it whether we wanted to divorce or not we all have issues we bring into our new relationships.

I'm happy in my life alone, but finding that same happy life with a new love interest can be a struggle. Combining two well lived lives can be frustrating at times. I'm less likely to put up with the same stuff I put up with in my last relationship. I mean what's the point of starting over with someone new if he acts the same way your ex did? That perfect someone who thinks I'm perfect as well doesn't seem to exist. That fun loving guy who is tired of the game playing, and just wants to enjoy the rest of his life carefree with me. My other half is out there somewhere...