Dating seems a lot more difficult and complex than I remember.

So I over analyze far too often so I may need brought back to reality if that’s the case. I’m just going to go with my situation because I hate making generalizations outside my own experience.

Anyways since I’ve gotten back into dating a lot about who I am as a person has changed and what I’ve been looking for has drastically changed. To be honest before my last relationship I searching anywhere and everywhere just so I could fill the need I felt I had so I could finally have a relationship again. It wasn’t healthy and resulted in a relationship that lasted far too long and was toxic.

Coming out of a long break from dating and getting back into it just seems more daunting than before. Since in my time focusing on myself I’ve developed my hobbies, skills, and I’ve even decided to further my education and am going to grad school. Because of this I’ve set ground rules for what I want in a relationship and what type of person I’m looking for as well as some lifestyle preferences since in my break from dating I left my religion and settled into the idea of not wanting children. These factors coupled with the struggle of online dating has proven difficult. I’ve also noticed a complete circumventing of the online dating system by using snapchat. I don’t have a snapchat and all so matches end instantly because of that. It just seems like fewer people just want to talk and more just are enjoying the attention.

I’m still rather young, but I don’t have any social media or any of that jazz beyond reddit. It just seems so daunting to find anyone with a similar mindset and lifestyle that I have. I mean demographically speaking it a rather interesting interconnection of political, religious, and lifestyle views that are already rather small in number especially in the U.S. where a good chunk of the population still holds on to some form of religion or religious ideal.

It’s just seem so difficult to find anyone at this point in my life. I’m happy how I am and I don’t feel like putting work into both a fruitless and unpleasant experience seems worth it. I especially don’t want to go back into my original mindset that I need a relationship since that leads to nothing but regret and mistakes. Any advice, suggestions, or thoughts on this?