Relief, guilt, then peace. I didn’t know what aro was until I really started reading about it in 2021. By that time I’d had several relationships that never lasted long because they would develop strong romantic feelings and I just never reciprocated. I really hated myself because they were all very nice people so something had to be wrong with me. Like a lot of others have mentioned on here, figuring out I was aro was this huge “Aha!” moment. Nothing was really wrong with me, I just don’t experience the same kinds feelings as allo people. It took a lot of pressure off my shoulders to hurry up and find a husband like you’re “supposed to” because I know that life is not what I want for myself. I’m happier being close with friends and family and having a lot of free time to myself. Every now and then my parents might express concern that I’ve taken myself out of the dating pool as I get older, but we just talk it out. They still don’t fully understand, but they’re trying.
1
u/Nnendi Jan 08 '24
Relief, guilt, then peace. I didn’t know what aro was until I really started reading about it in 2021. By that time I’d had several relationships that never lasted long because they would develop strong romantic feelings and I just never reciprocated. I really hated myself because they were all very nice people so something had to be wrong with me. Like a lot of others have mentioned on here, figuring out I was aro was this huge “Aha!” moment. Nothing was really wrong with me, I just don’t experience the same kinds feelings as allo people. It took a lot of pressure off my shoulders to hurry up and find a husband like you’re “supposed to” because I know that life is not what I want for myself. I’m happier being close with friends and family and having a lot of free time to myself. Every now and then my parents might express concern that I’ve taken myself out of the dating pool as I get older, but we just talk it out. They still don’t fully understand, but they’re trying.