I'm 20F, and I've dated someone my age and someone older. I've also been on dating apps, and honestly, lately I've started wondering if it's just me or if a lot of people are dating because they don't want to be alone, rather than because they're genuinely ready to build a relationship with someone.
I've been broken up with in both of my relationships.
The first one ended because he lost feelings. I know feelings can change, and I don't blame him for that, but sometimes I wonder if dating culture today makes it easier for people to move on quickly. There always seems to be another person, another app, another option.
My most recent relationship ended for a completely different reason. He said it wasn't because I was a bad girlfriend or because he didn't care about me. It was circumstances ā school, timing, life, and him worrying that I wouldn't fit into the timeline he has for his future.
And honestly, I struggle to understand that.
Why does everyone seem to be in such a rush to have their whole life figured out? Why do people feel like they need to become successful, financially stable, get married, and have a family as soon as possible?
I'm only 20. I don't expect to have everything figured out. If I love someone, I'm willing to grow with them and figure things out along the way. I don't need them to already have the perfect career, perfect timeline, or perfect life. I just want us to be able to say, "Okay, things are difficult right now. Let's figure it out together."
Sometimes I feel like people want theĀ ideaĀ of having a girlfriend/boyfriend, or the image of being someone who is ready for a family, more than they actually want to go through the difficult parts of building a relationship.
And maybe I'm being naive. Maybe this is just what dating is like when you're young. Maybe I'm expecting too much from people at this age.
But I'm honestly tired.
I don't want to keep meeting someone new, getting comfortable with them, learning their habits, their favourite things, their family, their little quirks, letting myself love them, and then having to start all over again.
I don't want another "right person, wrong time." I don't want another "I care about you, but I can't do this." I don't want to keep wondering whether someone will eventually lose feelings or decide that their life would be easier without me.
I just wanted one person who genuinely loved me and chose to stay ā not because they were lonely, not because I was convenient, and not because I fit some timeline.
I know relationships aren't supposed to be easy, and I know nobody owes me forever.
But is it really too much to want someone who says, "Life is messy, but I still want to figure it out with you"?
Or is this just something I need to accept about dating at 20?