I understand what you are saying. I've been divorced almost ten years. I find that I'm not interested in having a man in my life. I have a full life on a small farm. My days are full and I have goals to work towards. I just don't have the time to share my life with anyone's else..

You need to take some time to find what you like and want. Really think about what and who you might want in your life. Time will change what you are thinking. You know what and who you don't want in your life so use what you have learned for your future.

I trust people and i can be vulnerable, just
Not emotionally ready to date. I need to heal
the whole of me and my heart. Thats my goal
For right now, thats the best i can do, HUGS

So, I'm going to say something that is going to come across as extremely cynical but in reality it's just a simple fact of life. It's an absolute GUARENTEE that if you enter into a relationship with another human being that you are going to get hurt. It's inevitable. Either the person will end up violating your trust, will end the relationship, or they will eventually will die. There are no good ends to relationships, theoretically. That being said, I personally believe it's still worth it to enter into relationships with others (romantic and otherwise) and enjoy the good times while they exist. We have an inherent need for connections with others, particularly as romantic partners.

It isn't your ability to trust others that you need to work on - it's your ability to trust and believe in yourself that when the bottom falls out of a relationship that you're strong enough to handle it and not fractured enough to take it on as being your fault.

Just my 2 cents.

I've felt like this too but I can only imagine you, who I've noticed has responded to hundreds if not thousands of posts, must feel the disillusionment pretty sharply after reading about so much pain. I agree with Forestfreek that when you enter into a relationship with another human being you are guaranteed to be hurt one way or another and that sucks. It makes me want to hide out in a cave (with my cats) and guard my heart. But I also know that the space I'm in now is about healing and focusing on myself. I tell myself it's okay to have thoughts that I never want to be in another relationship again. It's okay to be devastated and burnt out and exhausted by the whole thing. Someday those feelings might change but for now, I'm going to honor my experience and accept whatever comes up. And I'm going to practice mindfulness and non-attachment because the older I get the more it seems that's the only way to really cope with the neverending suffering that follows us throughout our lives.

Thanks everyone, just can't even entertain the thought right now.

And seventhdoor, I haven't come anywhere close to that amount of posts!

But I'm working with non-attachment as well. Only way to stay sane.