same here....same here....hugs bill

well that's good. it's a good way to look at it, at least you know you made progress.

they say in the 12 step programs all the time....

Progress not perfection!!! Yes to progress....I am outside of a box I had been in for all those years since I came home from Guam in 1999...I married but was still in silly box of sex means love and love means get married....not in that box now...sex would be nice but does not need me getting hitched....I am not good enough to be married to anyone right now...I WOULD BE A BALL AND CHAIN TO THEM!

the ball and chain comes in form of huge financial mess of debts that I am in would kramp any one's life....

every minute may be the moment when you meet your exact other

it is good you are able to look back and acknowledge the progress you made. who knows what this year will bring you?

Are not prenuptials possible, Billsfriend. -Which guard against $ entanglements .?

Be that as it may, IMO the ring comes first and anything else is experimenting (as in, a lot of kids ~experiment~).

In my liberal U town ppl frequently have ceremonies of commitment. To which lot's of friends are invited and a Unitarian clergy. Nothing legal..

Two ppl wanting to team up and face life together -- um I don't think should that be removed from considerationi.

Loneliness doesn't completely go away when the soulmate is found&persuaded. But it sure improves things :)

Ppl can sometimes take a vacation from living together. My sister did that. She and Jack had taken a pledge for each other (2d mrg for each of them); they moved apart more than once/when they couldn't stand each other. [A refuge space might be lined up ahead of time.]
Boy scout motto.
For ~several~ purposes; "be prepared" concerning more than one issue -- old age being one example. . . . / C

I know what your saying. I quit meds, smoking and drinking. Lost weight, doing better at my job than ever, but I too am lonely and when you nobody to share anything with a deeper level, it seems to not count. Writing what you have done and your goals and resolutions down as corny as it may sound somehow does something for you, trust me, it sound so "lazy counsler" but it does work for real. Give yourself a break. Prayers, Philip

But I KNOW you will continue to be better because you have the will to make this year a good year for you. Hugs GB

Pause and Remember:
At any moment you have the power to say, "this is enough" and radically change the course of your destiny. Have the faith and courage to follow your hearts calling.

Jenni Young

That is a very positive attitude. Thanks for sharing it. I needed the reminder that there is always something positive to focus on even during the low moments.