I’m 36 now.
I’ve been with my wife for 13 years — since I was 23.
Before that, I had one girlfriend. That’s it.
I was painfully shy growing up, and honestly, just lucky I even found someone. She’s amazing. I’m not bored. I’m not unhappy. We’re good.
But… lately I’ve been realizing I missed out on a lot of the dating experience.
Friends talk about the crazy stories — dating apps, flings, messy nights, learning what they liked and didn’t like through trial and error — and I never had that.
I went from shy, awkward kid to lifelong relationship without really “playing the field” or even knowing myself that well.
It’s not that I want to go back and change my life. I love my wife. I love our life.
It’s just… sometimes I feel this quiet sadness about the experiences I didn’t have.
Not about other people — about other versions of myself that I’ll never get to be.
The reckless one.
The heartbreak survivor.
The guy who had to figure it out the hard way.
I think it’s possible to be grateful and still grieve the paths you didn’t take.
Both feelings can exist at the same time.
Anyway, that’s my hot take. Just had to get it off my chest.
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Backup of the post’s body:
I’m 36 now.
I’ve been with my wife for 13 years — since I was 23.
Before that, I had one girlfriend. That’s it.
I was painfully shy growing up, and honestly, just lucky I even found someone. She’s amazing. I’m not bored. I’m not unhappy. We’re good.
But… lately I’ve been realizing I missed out on a lot of the dating experience.
Friends talk about the crazy stories — dating apps, flings, messy nights, learning what they liked and didn’t like through trial and error — and I never had that.
I went from shy, awkward kid to lifelong relationship without really “playing the field” or even knowing myself that well.
It’s not that I want to go back and change my life. I love my wife. I love our life.
It’s just… sometimes I feel this quiet sadness about the experiences I didn’t have.
Not about other people — about other versions of myself that I’ll never get to be.
The reckless one.
The heartbreak survivor.
The guy who had to figure it out the hard way.
I think it’s possible to be grateful and still grieve the paths you didn’t take.
Both feelings can exist at the same time.
Anyway, that’s my hot take. Just had to get it off my chest.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.