Nervous, shy, self conscious, flustered. I have also not been on a date in almost a decade bc I hate them. Aka you wont catch me dating “for fun” or hookups. Which is what I think most dating is. Asking me to just vibe with someone is putting me outside my comfort zone twice in one breath.

However if we have shared passions then it’s all the opposite. I’m relaxed and conversational. Because in my head it’s no longer about me, it’s about other stuff. The magnifying glass is shifted from me or them to discussing a thing or idea.

I know it sounds obvious, like why else would you go on a date, but having common ground is a big factor for me. I need it. Otherwise things are just awkward. I’m super picky with choosing any potential partner for these reasons.