Sorry about the rough breakup. Maybe it will give you pause to think about your friends perspective. There are advantages to being single as many will mention. I think the most important part of any choice is how healthy it is for you. Bad relationships will destroy you as will being depressingly alone. There are lots of good tips on how to avoid both.at the end of the day, you have to live with yourself. Follow your path as healthy as you can no matter what your choice. If you were observing yourself from a friends eye, what would your advice be?

I got so used to being single that I'm not navigating the dating scene very well. It stresses me out. After 20 plus years of not dating (really!) I decided to start back about a year and a half ago. Now, I'm in a place where I REALLY want a significant other. I want someone to cuddle with, talk to, have sex with, and share intimate details of my life with.

You will find the sex part is not the hard part, it is the alone part that takes awhile to get use too.

I agree with your friend, you do need to learn to be alone. Invest in figuring out who you are and doing the things that fulfill you. I can't say you'll ever find a long term partner, but you will have a solid relationship with yourself which in the long run is the main person you have to be at peace with.

The "being alone" takes "getting used to" ...it's a matter of preferences...I'm totally happy with my level of cleanliness, style and quantity of food I eat, time on the computer vs time on the TV, work out prefs, etc. When she's here it's a compromise.

I've done that enough in my life.

I think my days of compromising to please a woman are over.

There’s a 12-step group for Sex and Love addicts. Though the model is based on having a god, that’s not at all necessary for recovery. Sometimes it helps to connect with others who have trouble forming healthy relationships also. Just a suggestion .

You don't need to live with someone to have an outlet for your sex drive. If that's the only reason to have someone be with you, you have some thinking to do.

Do you have anyone who would consider being friends with benefits? I’ve been single almost 2 years now. I met my ex when I was 20 (I’m 45 now) and had 1 boyfriend prior to him. So this is basically my first time being and living alone. There are definitely parts I love and parts I don’t.

I too have a high sex drive. I refuse to date someone who isn’t right for me, just so I have someone. Hence the FWB to keep my sanity

Best of luck to you

Living alone and dating can be very liberating and fun. We often tell ourselves that we need a companion and must live with someone.

Try a new life by taking very good care of yourself, live life on your own terms, live for you, use money for you, travel, have good friends and date when you want..... IMHO

But taking a good care of your health and finances is important. That improves your options significantly.

First of all, sorry you are going through the pain of breakup. I wish you the best in your grief process.

Secondly, I found this perspective helpful: [theatlantic.com] I'm not sure it's a bad thing to avoid being alone, nor do I think it is necessarily a good thing to learn how to be alone. When and where did we get that idea and how did it become popular? What, really, is the benefit of learning how to be alone? We are social creatures evolved to be in connection. I bask in it.

Doesn't work celibacy sucks just date