Feeling sad and lonely and miss having a relationship

[HLPRusters]

As the title says I’m feeling sad and lonely, have been a single parent to my young children for a few years, and in that time I have not dated or had sex with anyone.
im nearly 40 and feel my life is passing me by, I never get chatted up, I try dating apps and get matches but nothing ever goes anywhere.
Yet I am seeing many people become single and then they have no problem meeting someone else.
I've even embarrassingly got in touch with exes from a decade ago that were great for friends with benefits ant the time and even they’re not interested in no strings sex. Honestly I feel like that’s it for me… I really miss having a relationship and the things you can do as a couple, as well as the physical side.
Has anyone else experienced this? What do I do? It’s knocking my self esteem, which has always been low.

My friend tried to have her 'glow up'. She decided to get abit of a makeover, lose some weight, try some clothes from vinted and charity shops to save money. I know it all sounds superficial, but she felt hot again, and this helped her.
She went speed dating with another friend, not looking for anything, just to build her confidence or interact with other people. She found it scary at first but then enjoyed it.
She is single still, but she isn't in a low point anymore. I think it's about feeling abit good about yourself which is hard at time luvy.
x

To think being single is amazing! http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/5089044-to-think-being-single-is-amazing

This is a really good thread- I am a single mum to grown up kids. Youngest is 16, I am learning to love being single.

Sorry you are feeling sad though 💐

Feel free to message me privately

So sorry to read you are feeling down . When I was a lone parent, I didn’t feel that being single was amazing and I think that’s a valid viewpoint. I do hope you meet someone soon .