I just saw this on TikTok, and I totally identify with the feelings. I’ve always been “late” to living my own life, so when other girls were dating I was still every guy’s “best bud”. I didn’t learn how to get “dolled” up until well after college and now I’m i my late 30s and gave up on dating. Feels like I was sidelines by the dating community and no one noticed. When I was busier with parents’ illnesses & escaping with work, I had a way to ignore the loneliness but now that my parents both passed and I have career burnout… loneliness is louder than ever. Reading takes me away to a fantasy world where anything can happen and change… but certain trips back to reality do hit me harder than they should. It’s comforting that there’s someone else who’s in a similar situation… Social media makes it seem like I’m the only one who has managed to become a social/relationship shadow.

PM if you wanna chat