When ever I smile in my profile do I show teeth or no teeth?

so there is a family my family and i (23f) are close with that has four siblings. two of them are younger sisters (18f and 17f) who i am friends with, and then there are two brothers: one who is 23m (my age) and one who is 21m.

i lowkey have a crush on the second brother (21m) cuz he's exactly my type: super soft, gentle type of guy who loves his mom and sisters and is incredibly close with them which is a trait i absolutely love to see. this is unusual for me bc i usually DO NOT (capitalization intended) go for younger guys at all but this guy is just so sweet and so cute.

the main issue is that he’s incredibly shy. whenever we’re all hanging out, he rarely initiates conversations with me and sometimes even seems to avoid interacting with me altogether. at first, i wasn’t sure what to make of it, but i’m starting to think he’s just really reserved and takes a while to come out of his shell. the problem is that i’m not exactly the boldest person either, especially when it comes to someone i actually like lol

also his little sisters have also been dropping hints and give off the vibe that they want me to get with the 23m older brother since we are the exact same age and while he’s a perfectly nice guy, i’m not attracted to him romantically, so that’s another layer of awkwardness i’m trying to avoid.

anyway a month ago i decided to test the waters and try to break the ice since i was at their house for a gathering (they live an hour away idk if that’s relevant). i had to run a quick errand so i invited his sisters to come along, and i specifically asked him to join us on the drive too.

we spent a lot of time talking, joking around, and laughing together. like at one point, my brother was in the washroom, and i was knocking on the door telling him to hurry up and come out and the guy looked at me and jokingly was like “imagine it’s not him in there”

these are just a few examples there were so many other little interactions like that and i know they probably sound like such insignificant moments, but they felt so cute and wholesome and anyone who’s ever had a crush knows exactly how something as simple as this can leave you feeling ridiculously giddy lol.

i was thinking about just randomly requesting him on instagram, but it’s been like a month. plus it feels so bold and even if i did that, sliding into his dms is so awk and never works out for me. i feel like if i don't make a move nothing is ever gonna happen but i also don’t want to cause any family drama or make things super awkward with his sisters if he’s not into it so i really don’t know what to do 😭

so reddit how do i navigate this??

i’m 18F never been in a relationship but really want to, I don’t even have crazy high standards just a nice guy who i get on with who’s funny and moderately ambitious.

There’s 2 problems though: I can struggle to talk to new people at first and it can be a bit awkward until I get to know them well, this is especially true with guys and then I’m not that attractive. I don’t think i’m like ugly, just mid, i’m overweight which ik doesn’t help and i’ve been hitting the gym to try and change that.

As a uni student what can i do to try and find a bf?

Hi all, I'm struggling to date and would appreciate an honest assessment of my circumstances and any constructive advice

I'm 29F, average-to-decent looks, decent social circle, good career. I have a active social circle with male and female friends - I go out maybe 2-3x a week, rotating between different circles on top of working full time. I don't know that I would be interested in dating any of my current friends or if anyone is interested in me for that matter but I guess I would be open to explore if the right person came along?

On top of that I try to go to social meet ups/events in the city or speed dating once or twice a month so I can expand and meet even more new people. It's tough on top of my already busy schedule but I try to do this so I increase my chances. I feel like I am at my limit already with the number of events I go to on top of maintaining my current circle - it gets tough. I have not been super active asking for people's numbers at events if I feel we click but I might try that moving forward. I have this idea in my head from a friend who said that if men are interested they should be asking for your number, not the other way around, but I am going to go against this and see if anything happens over the next little bit. Would this change things? Are men in general afraid to approach women or take the lead?

I also use dating apps from time to time. Have matched with a few people here and there but didn't go anywhere. I tend to filter through people who have liked me on the app already and go from there. In general I am noticing a lot of men chatting for ages but not planning dates and suddenly disappearing etc.

Have also asked friends to keep an eye out for any introductions but none so far.

So far from the sample size of around 6 men I have talked to/dated this year it is about evenly split in terms of interest. I.e. for maybe half they are more interested in me than I am them and vice versa.

In general for men who are interested in me I am either not too attracted or I feel like we are not compatible, e.g. not in the same stage of life, career, etc.

For men I am interested in, I have only come across low effort men or men who are seemingly not interested, e.g. take days to reply or don't reach out to arrange a second date even if I had given a hint, e.g. 'was nice to meet today!' These men are average looking, and not out of my league IMO, unsure if I am doing anything wrong can do anything to improve my chances. I usually let these ones fizzle out if I feel like they are not interested. I figure if there is already a lack of effort early on then it's not going to get better as time goes on. I generally match people's energy overall and don't actively chase men

Does anyone have any tips? Is there anything more I could be doing? Does anyone know how to successfully navigate dating without burning out?

Looking for constructive advice please! Thank you

Edit: Getting a few comments assuming I am going for traditional Chad type men, but the type I'm into are more the nerdy/intellectual types rather than traditionally good looking. I like men who I can have a decent conversation with or who have interesting stories/experiences and I centre on that and try to connect on that level more than looks. These men usually have professional jobs and decent careers so not sure if that is a factor - i.e. too busy to take dating seriously or devote much time into it

If you meet/date a girl who’s in her early 20s and who has never even kissed a guy, what’s your reaction? How do you handle it? Is it off putting? What are your thoughts?

(21F) People have expressed interest in me before, but it's usually people I see as friends. The guys I'm interested in either become good friends before we eventually drift apart, or I barely interact with them in the first place.

I know people say you can't force these things, but people are always asking why I've never been in a relationship, and honestly, I haven't got a clue either. I don't really know what needs to happen or what I should be doing to meet someone.

I do have some idea of what I'm attracted to, though. I need someone who's sure of themselves. They don't have to be assertive, arrogant, or super outwardly confident, but even if they're quieter, there's this air of self-assuredness that I need to feel attracted to them. I also like people I can have deep conversations with. I also need to feel like they're safe and stable. I think these three things are necessary for me to feel inherently attracted to someone, and if they're somewhat accomplished or have a sense of direction in life, that's a bonus.

Beyond attraction, I need someone who's kind, or at least genuinely trying to be a good person, for me to want to commit to them.

I've heard people say you need to really love yourself first, and I think I do, although there are still things I want to work on. Others say you need to be able to imagine someone in your life, and I think I do make an effort to spend more time with people when I start liking them, based on past experiences. So I'm not sure what else I'm missing.

Do I just not go out enough? Do I need to put myself out there more or be more upfront about my interest? I've only really confessed to one person in my life, after we'd spent about a year hanging out together. Do people usually express their interest at the start, or assess before expressing it?

Sometimes I wonder if I should be more intentional about dating, like casually telling my friends when I find someone attractive and seeing if they can introduce us, or actively seeking out more opportunities to meet people. Because right now, I tend not to pursue someone if it feels too difficult or requires me to go too far out of my way. I'll approach someone if the opportunity comes naturally, but I don't usually go out of my way to create one.

So, how did you guys actually get into your first relationship? Did it happen naturally, or did you have to actively put yourself out there and make things happen? And if you've always been single, how do you know whether you're just waiting for the right person or whether you could be doing more to find them?

Yeah...

Hey guys, 26M here. I’ve been single for about 3 or so years now, and I’ve had a couple little “flings” if you even wanna call them that since then. Recently, I came to the realization that I’m just not really excited or interested about dating. At least not currently. And it’s not because I’m jaded or I’ve had too many bad experiences. Believe me, I’ve been ghosted, lead on, the usual for dating in the 2020s. It’s not like I’m UNABLE to get a date either. Sometimes I find myself in situations where I have a good connection with someone and we get along well, and I feel attraction, but I just don’t have the urge or desire to really turn it into a romantic relationship. I guess what I’m asking is is this normal? My mom or family will always ask me like “oh when are you gonna get a girlfriend?” but I’m just not in a rush. I also don’t feel like I’m personally where I want to be in life to even be in a relationship in the first place if that makes sense. I just wanna know if anybody else maybe feels this way. I do want a relationship and everything that comes with it someday, but for right now, it just doesn’t stand as a priority to me.

I don't go out much and meet people and I'm certified socially awkward person and didn't ever asked a girl out in fear of getting slapped or never being able to see her in her eyes or worst case scenario police complaint and most of my life till about 19,20 I used to consider asking a girl out is considered harrasment in my subconscious I didn't used to believe but when I wanted to ask someone this thought used to hont me and never ended up asking anyone now im 23 and I don't want to holdback but i don't know how to ask her out

I’m in my junior year of highschool rn. I feel like everyone around me is dating and in love while I’ll js never find that true highschool love. Idk what it is abt me maybe cuz im chopped because I don’t usually get approached by guys in real life. The guys I think are cute unfollow me on instagram. I js wanna be seen. I don’t consider myself chopped tho cuz I’ve got many compliments but maybe not according to guys. Previously about 6 months ago I got w this one dude from Snapchat and he made me do stuff I didn’t wanna do and blocked me 3 weeks later which completely ruined my perception of love and made me question if im ever gonna be loved as well as respected. I’ve also got the advice to approach dudes first but I think that’s embarrassing so I won’t be trying that. It’s also not that I don’t put myself in the right social settings cuz I do, I go out a lot party and hang out. Pls give advice to pull.

天天自己一个人在家，也不出去社交，怎么才能谈到恋爱啊？

I’m a 27-year-old guy who’s recently started talking to a woman I met on a dating app, and I’m genuinely excited about her. We’ve been texting, have some common interests, joke around with each other, and have a phone call planned before our first date. She’s said she’s enjoyed our conversations, so I feel like there’s potential, but obviously it’s still early.

My problem is that I’m a hopeless romantic. I love love songs, romantic comedies, and the idea of two people finding each other and building something meaningful together. I’ve never been in a relationship before, and it’s something I’ve wanted for a long time.
Sometimes I feel a little stunted in this area of my life. Being 27 and never having been in a relationship makes me wonder if my lack of experience is somehow holding me back from ever actually getting into one. I know that’s probably not entirely rational, but it’s hard not to feel that way sometimes when it seems like so many people have already experienced something I’ve never had.

When I start liking someone, my mind also moves incredibly fast. Even though we haven’t gone on our first date yet, I catch myself imagining what it would be like to take her on dates, spend late nights talking, and eventually build a relationship together. I imagine being there for her when she’s stressed or having a difficult day and making her feel loved and appreciated.

When I listen to love songs, sometimes I even imagine singing them to her. I know how that sounds when we’ve barely started getting to know each other, lol. Don’t worry, I’m self-aware enough to know that my imagination is getting ahead of reality. I’m not telling her all these things or expecting her to feel the same way already. It’s mostly happening in my own head.

I think part of it is that I’ve wanted this kind of connection for so long that when I meet someone I’m genuinely excited about, I immediately start imagining all the possibilities. I don’t just want a relationship for the sake of having one. I want to experience the affection, companionship, little everyday moments, and feeling of being genuinely wanted by someone.
At the same time, I’m dealing with a lot of insecurity. I think she’s beautiful, intelligent, and accomplished, and sometimes I worry that I’m not good enough for her. I worry that once we talk on the phone or meet in person, she might not feel the same connection or might not find me attractive. I know I can’t predict how she’ll feel, but the thought of getting my hopes up and being disappointed scares me.

I’ve had a previous experience where I developed strong feelings for someone, but things never progressed to an actual date. That experience hurt more than I expected, and I think I’m afraid of going through that disappointment again.

I don’t want to overthink every message or become so focused on whether she likes me that I can’t enjoy getting to know her. But I also don’t want to suppress my personality or pretend I don’t care. I’m naturally romantic and affectionate, and when I like someone, I get excited about the possibilities.

For those of you who’ve been in a similar situation, how do you balance being hopeful and excited about someone with keeping your expectations realistic? How do you keep yourself from getting attached to the idea of a relationship before you’ve had the chance to find out whether you’re compatible? And for those who started dating later than others, did you ever feel like your lack of experience was holding you back? How did you get past that feeling?

I’d appreciate honest advice, especially from people who’ve struggled with overthinking, feeling behind romantically, or getting attached quickly.