@tyme

Hey everyone, I’m glad to have the opportunity to share my thoughts here. Being single can definitely feel like a mixed experience, especially when there aren’t many spaces for men to connect about the ups and downs of relationships. For me, it’s been a challenge to balance what I value in life with what’s currently within reach. I’ve struggled with motivation and self-improvement, which, combined with personal challenges, can make fostering the kind of relationship I want feel difficult.

Over time, I’ve noticed my values shift depending on my emotional state and life circumstances. For instance, I used to focus heavily on career and stability, but now, being on disability, I’m prioritizing self-care, balance, and working on what I can control. This sometimes makes dating challenging because I don’t always feel aligned with what I want in a relationship, and I wonder if it’s because I’m not yet living the life I aspire to.

The biggest hurdles for me are self-doubt and figuring out what I truly want from a partner versus what they might be looking for. Success for me at this stage is about celebrating small wins—building better habits and becoming more confident when interacting with others. While I don’t have any major success stories, I believe personal growth, even in small steps, is a success in itself.

I also want to acknowledge that while I’ve put this into my own words, I’ve used ChatGPT to help refine and proofread my thoughts.