If you were single and "in a rut" by age 32..

[WelcomeBackAmelia]

.. what happened afterwards?

I am nearly that age and definitely feeling a bit down about my life. For clarity, I know that Covid has made most people feel down about their own lives, so I understand my feelings are not unique at all.

I had the most horrendous break up back in March, which left me reeling for most of the year even though it was for the best.

I am now nearly 32, single, no DC, have been doing online dating on and off and haven't met anyone remotely interesting. I am scared that I have lost the ability to open up and fall in live with someone new, I feel this last relationship has hardened me so much emotionally.

Thankfully I have a good job, financial stability, a lovely home, and loads of great friends

I know that 32 is still relatively young, but I have this irrational fear that my best days are beyond me and that life will be a depressing, lonely slog from now on.

So if you were in a similar situation at my age, how has your life gone on? Please tell me life has surprised you and turned itself around?

I could use a little "collective wisdom pick me up" today

What a truly shit year to be single

I was in a slightly different position to you but couldn't leave you unanswered. I was 29 before I met (my now) DH. I had never kissed anyone never mind anyone else. It was really, really hard. I spent so many nights crying, especially after one particularly crap summer where it felt like I went to a wedding every week between May-Sept.

I will not even begin to tell you to 'join a club'. I hated that one!

It is really all down to luck. I hope your luck changes soon

I felt exactly the same. I would suggest you are kind to yourself. You had a horrendous break up in March during a difficult and strange year. I wouldn't try to force change. I am now in my 40's - met my partner at 35 - we have two sons. I also have a very different job and live in a different part of the country. Life will move you along - just try to enjoy being young (you are young) and 32. Looking back I had lots of positives in my early 30's just didn't see it at the time.

I married completely the wrong person. Don’t be panicked into anything.

32.. single living alone. 33 met my husband... Been together 17 years and have a teenager. Don't loose hope.

I was single at 29 after the breakup of what I thought was my forever relationship. It took a me a good couple of years to recover and be in the right place to even consider meeting someone else. I online dated and had a few short term relationships before finally meeting my husband at 38 and had DD at 40. I found it really tough when all my friends were getting married and starting their families, I'm not going to lie and I ended up having some therapy to deal with the feelings I had around the possibility of never having that for myself, because that was a real possibility by the time I entered my late 30's. But you're still really young and have time to meet someone and have a family for sure.