I’m 23M and recently started my full-time job. My long-term goal is to switch to a better-paying role and eventually move to a metro city because I feel like my current environment is very limiting. I work from home in my hometown, where there aren’t many opportunities to meet new people or socialize. Most of my free time is spent at home, and it often feels like life is just passing by while everyone else is moving forward. I used to go to the gym consistently and felt much better both physically and mentally, but I lost that routine, gained the weight back, and stopped going. I’ve recently started again and I’m trying to be consistent. The biggest thing weighing on me is my love life. I’ve never been in a relationship, dating apps haven’t worked for me, and I don’t really have opportunities to meet women organically. I really want to experience a genuine relationship before marriage - not just because I don’t want to be single, but because I want to love someone and be loved back. Lately I’ve realized I’m becoming anxious about the future. I keep wondering: What if I never meet someone I’m genuinely compatible with? What if I end up settling or lowering my standards just because I’m afraid of being alone? I really don’t want that. I also compare myself to friends who have moved to metro cities, have active social lives, are dating, and seem to be experiencing so much more than I am. It makes me feel like my own life is on pause. So I wanted to ask people who are older or who’ve been through something similar: Did you ever feel this way in your early 20s? If you did, did your life genuinely improve later? If so, what changed? Was it moving to a different city, changing your mindset, putting yourself out there more, or was it simply a matter of time? I’d really appreciate hearing real experiences because right now it honestly feels like I’m falling behind. submitted by /u/Independent-Body-886
Originally posted by u/Independent-Body-886 on r/AskMen