When did you meet 'the one?'

[RainbowBriteUk]

I'm a few years from 40 and after years of a few long term relationships, more short term flings, i'm single. I always imagined I would find my one by now. I don't want much - someone funny, a bit of a geek, quirky and someone who cares for me as much as I care for him. I feel like i'm destined to be on my own forever!

I was 23. I knew after the second date and went home and told my housemates I was going to marry him! He wasn’t my type at all. 9 years later, we are married and have 3 children.

I was 33, single mum of 3, he was 38. He's the only one I ever wanted to marry so definitely the one... Also I find him pretty bearable all things considered

I was 18 when I met my DH. We have been together 14 years, married 5 (although he proposed after only 4 months) with 2 DC.

I met the One when I was 22.... Then divorced at 37. I might have met the next One at 41.... it's early days though so fingers crossed!

I met 'the one'. He led me a merry dance for ten years.

Sack 'the one'. Keep looking for chaps you can have fun with and enjoy your life.

27, together for 12 years, married for 9. I feel lucky that I met him just as dating was changing, ie this ridiculous concept that you are only boyfriend and girlfriend til you're asked and potentially this can be a year in and you've already said I love you or even have a child together (honestly the last bit is true, I know someone who was in that situation.)
It seems to be much harder to meet people these days with all the online dating and people are seen to be disposable, my single friends in their early 30s have been single for several years and they are perfectly lovely and would like to settle down eventually but they just don't meet anyone half decent.

I was 18, almost 19, worked in an office at BT (it was owned by the GPO then) and HE walked in, had lovely long wavy hair and a fit body. He winked at me, I winked back, he was so surprised, he dropped loads of papers he was carrying. That was my cue to chat him up . That was 43 years ago. We've been married 41 years, got 2 adult sons, 2 grandchildren, and he's STILL "the one"

Met at work aged 23/24. Snogged at the office Christmas party

16 though nothing happened until 28. 36 now, married for 5 years. We were friends for years first if that helps.

I was 18, him 24, he made clear his interest. Nothing happened for about 3 years due to each seeing other people and never being single at the same time. Finally got together but just in a casual FWB situation (for him anyway) for about 3 years, it wasn’t pretty really, he fucked me around a fair bit. Went our separate ways for a while, then he reappeared when I was 29 and pursued me relentlessly. I took it very slowly, had to make sure it was for real this time, but we are still happy together 17 years and 2 kids later. We weren’t ready first time round, but we found our right time in the end. Hopefully we will remain each other’s “One”

I was 31. Found him in a free dating website. No regrets!

There's no such thing as "the one" we're all capable of meeting many people who we could have great chemistry with, love each others company and make each other happy etc It's a silly notion to think that there's only one person in the world for you

Online, aged 27, looking for casual fun after swearing off men for life following a decade long abusive relationship. Married reasonably quickly, now 31 and about to TTC. Couldn’t be happier.

Aged 26 at a football match. Am 40 now and our daughter is 10.

I met him when I was 31 and he started working in my office. Fast forward 6 years and we finally got together, just after my 37th birthday.

Married 31 years

26. Had just come out of a relationship that broke my heart. And then met DH in a nightclub... completely unexpectedly, now been married over 20 years.

I was 37 when I met my DH. Pregnant at 38, baby born 39, now 40 and trying for #2.

At 33! We've been together ever since.

16, 10 years later married and 2 kids.

I didn't know which way to vote as I don't know what the AIBU is. To think there's such a thing as "the one"? In that case you are being unreasonable.

I have been very happily married twice. (I was widowed.) I feel very lucky to have met both of these wonderful men, and I hope that my current husband and I will be married for the rest of our lives. So of course I don't believe there is, or was, "one" perfect person out there for me. I don't even believe there were two perfect people for me. If there were, the odds of me meeting them both would be infinitesimally small. Had my life panned out even slightly differently, it's possible I would have met someone else who I was compatible with and lived happily ever after with them.

What I do know is that you're putting an awful lot of pressure on yourself and anyone you might happen to meet if you're always wondering if they are the one. Put yourself out there, by all means, but don't have any expectations from a new relationship that this might be it. Let things develop naturally, which they will if it's right.

I was 19. 8 years later and we're happily married with a baby.

I've known him about 14 years, but we didn't get together until 3 years ago (i was 37, him 39) We were just friends and it came a bit out of nowhere. For me at least - he'd had feelings for me for a while apparently. He's definitely my 'one', although if you'd told me that say 5 years ago I'd have laughed myself silly.

You never know what's going to happen, so don't give up.

I was 21... still in touch, right person but wrong time... we were both just too stubborn and silly and young.

He's my best friend though and knows more than me about anyone else in the world and i about him.

Would never, ever do anything more than just be close friends though as i value my marriage and children above all else.

I was 18, he was 19. We got together when we were 19 and 20, though for me it was love at first sight.

We've been married for nearly 27 years and have 3 young adult children. I look forward to him coming home every night.