ADVICE
Discovering Love for the First Time? Don’t Stress It; Enjoy
You’ve been single since birth and haven’t experienced anything close to a romantic encounter. Most of your friends say…
Love will come. Just wait.
Don’t worry. There’s someone out there for you.
There are plenty of fish in the sea. Just keep looking.
They’ll come around when you least expect it.
You appreciate their well-wishes. They’re pretty harmless and stem from good intentions. After all, they only want to see you happy. However, you can’t help but feel antsy at their words. Discovering love seems far off, so unnecessary pressure creeps in.
At some point, hearing their words can get annoying. While they don’t hold any malice, they can feel like daggers laced with pity (and, for others, condescendance). You can sense the deep breaths they take before encouraging you to cast your net.
With that perception, it seems as if singlehood is a death knell. The only cure for that is, apparently, a relationship.
You pay it no mind and focus on yourself. Your character is progressing; you’re growing.
And then, you met that person.
You’ll Never Know When You’ll Discover Love
Perhaps your friends had a point all along. There’s no telling when you’ll fall for somebody. Cupid shoots his arrows at unsuspecting moments. In your case, you just happened to fall for somebody at a late age.
The targets of his arrows are people you least expect. You have a clue as to what to expect. Countless books, movies, shows, advice, and secondhand accounts have “prepared” you for your lover era.
However, everything feels intense anyway. You’re feeling things you never thought you’d feel.
No, You Don’t Suck for Discovering Love at a Later Age
If you think you’re a loser for experiencing love just now, believe me when I say you’re not. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
You’re not the only late bloomer in love. Many people are. No one should judge you for your new experiences. Like everyone else, you’re going through life at your own pace.
Instead of focusing on the critics, look at the bright side.
You’re no longer a child who can’t make sense of the world. You’re a mature adult with a stable career and finances. Having gone through various life experiences, minor inconveniences like late replies don’t bother you as much. Mind games are nonexistent since you’re both too old for them.
Go Ahead — Enjoy It
We should go on more dates.
We should have deep talks more often.
We should be officially in a relationship by this time.
We should introduce our families to each other on the next holiday.
Stop thinking about what’s supposed to happen. Savor every moment with that person without getting too lost in the clouds. You’re allowed to feel giddy, so don’t stop yourself.
Love may not be as grand as fiction describes it, but it does have its magic. It may feel like an out-of-body experience, but you’ll appreciate unconditionally having someone in your corner.
Discovering love for the first time should be fun. So go ahead — love and be loved.
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