You are normal! Its only normal to put up a wall around yourself if you have been hurt. But a friend once told me, to love yourself, like yourself. Be your best friend! Then life will be it self! Not meaning to be self-centered. But to be yourself in life and not let others control your feelings and heart..
just my 2 cents..

LR

Very normal. I feel the same way sometimes. We just have to let nature take its course...

If anything it's teaching me patience. I almost feel like I am inadequate. Or not relationship material. Or I am picking the wrong men. I trust to easy, and my heart is on my sleeve. Maybe one day I will learn. Or it will all fall into place.

HA! And I get to HA! because I went on a date with a woman and then found out that she was ENGAGED! (I discovered this afterwards, when I facebook friended her. Engaged women are off limits as part of my code) Yeah, yeah...so yeah...I apparently don't know how to pick the right women. I trust too easily, I invest too much and I end up bankrupt each time. And still I love women. And still I refuse to give up on love. What? Am I daft? I don't think so, I think that love is out there. Maybe not for me, I'm starting to feel like I will never have attention from a woman again. I feel like I'll be single forever.

ditto

I am starting to give up too...

You are normal!! i am going through the same thing at the moment. I am actually thinking of going back on certain sites...even though I have encountered and when on dates with some creeps, its seems like these sites are the only way to meet someone. THe bars and clubs aren't the places they use to be and there aren't really any other places. Hang in there !!! I hope it changes for the both of us!!

I'm trying to have a positive attitude. I'm 44, only had 1 relationship, with my ex.
I'm not even sure I want to be with anyone. I'm bipolar and I know I can be hard to deal with. I'm also very set in my ways and am happy right now to make up the rules for my life.

If it's going to happen, it will.

Right there with you. Every relationship I have had, has failed. I'm sorry at picking men. My wall is infinite right now, I'm hurt so bad, I don't even want to have a male friend! I'm 48, alot older than you. I guess we both have time to find the right one, but I'm not so sure I want another relationship.

Not to sound insensitive, but I am glad I am not the only one going through this. I am sure you all are wonderful in your own ways. I just can't imagine going through life without being a mother. Maybe one day I'll understand. I have plenty of time.

Oh it is so normal. You are not alone. I used to be scared to the point that I started thinking that these people who seem to be happy are they really happy? I was sure they are not and just posing they are happy. But slowly I am realizing that yes people can be happy irrespective of they are alone or with someone. I used to be and I will be but it takes time. Hang in there...

I was wondering when this thread was going to come along, because I didn't want to start it. lol. But you sound just like me. Sometimes I just feel like I'm not meant to be in relationships. Yet I still seek them out knowing damn well they're going to end in failure and pain. Not the mindset one should have when going into a relationship, but when it's happening time after time, you can't help but not feel any other way. I can't say you're "normal" but I will say you're not alone.

I've only had 2 serious-ish relationships (no marriage nor kids, thank you Lord) and they were spaced out 2 years. I am only 24, when I am in a relationship I am told " you're perfect, you're so caring, you're so nice or too nice" Maybe someday someone will want that in a woman and see that in me. I just don't want to be a scorned woman for the rest of my life, being a man-hater. Odds are I'll probably fall head over heels for another man, but it's going to take a while. I guess each time it gets a little easier, but the patience is the hardest part.