I’m 29, never been in a relationship, and feel like I’m going to "age out" of dating and be alone forever while most of my peers move on and start families or whatever. Anyone feel the same?

I had insomnia tonight and it dawned on me: In a few short months, I'll be turning 30 and have never had a girlfriend or lasted more than two dates with a single girl ever. Besides randomly making out with some chicks here and there, I haven't even lost my virginity yet.

I have long struggled with dating. The women I was interested in in high school and college never seemed to reciprocate. Which is fine. I am far from a stud. When I was 22 and working my first job out of school, I figured that I eventually will find someone, right? I tried asking out women, trying the online dating thing, etc., but nothing ever panned out. My lack of success with online dating left me feeling rejected and ugly. I know how the dynamic of online dating impacts men negatively moreso than women, but I sometimes feel like I've been dealt a bad hand.

Many of my friends tell me that I'm a catch (what person who has struggled with dating hasn't heard that a million times?) and that it's all in my head. I've tried therapy, and while it's helpful to have someone listen to my struggles and tell me that I just need to push aside my self-perception that I'm wholly undateable and that no wants me – leading me to fear rejection and an inability to try harder, every single time I try online dating it goes nowhere and the cycle repeats itself.

I last went on a date in March 2020. I asked the girl out, but then found out she wasn't really interested. Which is fine. But it's another strike out and a blow to my confidence in my ability to find a partner.

The coronavirus has also robbed me opportunities to meet new people. I haven't tried online dating in over a year but have reason to believe that not much is going to change.

Maybe I am going to be alone. Maybe I'm not meant to have a partner. The competition is intense and I don't know if I am up for it. Dating is like applying for jobs these days and I just feel that some of my friends just don't understand what it's like to be rejected over and over.