I am a something single mom living in a somewhat rural area with a wonderful job, and a happy, well-adjusted school-age child. My ex-husband died five years ago, and six months later I dated an old friend for almost a year.
It ended amicably. Since then I have gone out on one blind date in going on three years. My mom wants me to date more, my friends want me to date more, even my son wants me to date more. The problem is me. I'm not interested in putting the time and energy into dating.
Sure, I'd like a boyfriend, but relationships are a lot of work, and I'm just not interested in doing that kind of work right now. Plus, when I think about dating, I get all kinds of middle school "Am I cute enough? I have found online dating a downright humiliating experience you know, it's like gambling, you only hear about the people that win.
Maybe I'm whiling away the time here, and in 10 years will regret not trying harder? Should I heed their advice and try to date more? Or should I tell them to bug off, and hope that things will unfold on their own? I'm inclined to suggest you follow your instincts. Your instincts are riding in a big red car. Follow it. Better yet, wait for the car that is carrying your instincts to pull into a convenience store, and when the driver goes in for a Slurpie, get in the backseat of the car.
Stay down low and ride. When your mother and your friends and even your son are all peering in the window, waving their hands in your face and chanting, "Date more! Date more! I'm following my instincts! Don't distract the driver, he's very temperamental. The driver of the car of your instincts is indeed temperamental. He's a surly old guy whose uniform looks like something out of the Crimean War.
