I had been a member of a few online dating sites for a few years, searching for Mr Right. I chatted to a number of men, but they werenât Mr Right for me. I wanted a long-term relationship and was happy to be single if it wasnât right.
I was single for a very long time.
Years ago I dated a lovely guy for a while: weâre still friends but overall I felt overwhelmed by the volume and type of responses on dating sites. It seems that many men say they are searching for love and intimacy but get that confused with âwham, bam, thank you maâam.â I had settled for casual sex in the past, thinking it was better than nothing, but there lies the problem.
If we as women settle for less, then that is what men will actually think we want. So ladies, letâs set the standard we want for ourselves.
I hid my profile and only chatted to people I felt to. It solved my inbox problem and unless I went fishing, nothing happened. And nothing happened for years! I would get a few bites now and then, and sometimes the initial signs were good, only to find we werenât compatible. You see, I donât drink alcohol and I didnât want to sleep with a stranger or send nude photos. While this was the game many a man wanted, I wasnât going to change to fit in.
I felt like giving up on the whole online dating game and for a while I did. Long gone were the days where I would drink to not feel and to fit in, even though I hated the taste of alcohol and how it made me feel – and I was so over giving my body away just for a guy to like me. I have changed my ways and wasnât going to settle like I did in the past.
On Dec 2016, I was scrolling through profiles wondering, âWhy am I doing this again?,â but found a profile that caught my attention. I messaged this man and we started chatting.
I didnât think he was Mr Right, but he seemed like a lovely person so I thought maybe a friend at least. We chatted for a few weeks and eventually met. After 3 dates, I was still not sure about him, and to be honest, was not sure he was interested in me because I was different: I am healthy, I go to bed early, I am a solo parent and I donât go out partying. Surely this is too boring for a man. But it turns out, this was not a problem for my Mr Right.
A few things that I have learnt about relationships:
- First and foremost, if we have a good solid relationship with ourselves, we can have this with another, and not lose who we are. Instead we can see how we can complement and inspire each other, and grow.
- I donât have to rush anything â we donât have to move in and live together for it to be a âgood relationship.â Although it is now a year later and the timing feels right.
- Itâs good not to be too hooked on your picture of Mr Right, because the reality could well be better than the picture. When we let go of expectations and open up we can be pleasantly surprised.
I have loved every moment of getting to know each other and as our relationship unfolds, I have opened up to the love we share. The more our relationship deepens, the more I see all my other relationships changing, family, friends and work colleagues and most of all, the relationship that I have with me.
And now I know from experience that internet dating does work! I found my Mr Right online and I absolutely adore him and our relationship.
Published with permission of my Mr Right
By Rosie Bason, Northern NSW
Further Reading:
Fairy-Tales – why a romantic relationship is so hard to find
Internet Dating – A Life Changing Experience
How to be safe dating online