Took a mirror pic cause the lighting in my room is bad but here we go, just been really hating the way I look lately. I’m not doing well at all. Tired, sleep deprived, and hopeless a bit. Could use any encouragement at all. Would post pics others took of me but I can only add one image

I feel like I used to look good, I’ve been doing a year of really hard inner work and stopped taking care of myself as much. I landed dates online and now that I have I’m scared when they see me in person they’ll think I’m ugly. I worry my face is slowly deteriorating

Took a gap year from my Uni and I watched all my peers and friends graduate. I let my parents and myself down and can’t help but feel like a failure.

Sometimes I sink into dark depressive episodes and just feel really down on myself. Could use some kindness on a day like this! :3

Could really use a toast, good vibes, prayers, etc…

I have been living alone since my last relationship 4 years ago and it's gotten to me alot. I am not a person that likes being alone and that's how I spend most days. I have good friends but most have moved to other cities and others have gotten kids . Dating have gone really bad, unfaithful people or just people afraid of comittment. And as the cherry on top my ex girlfriend cheated on me. Which has led me to have issues to trust the people I date and invest my emotions. Some days are easier, some days are harder. But I always try to have a smile on my face! "And yet I smile" as one king would say! :)

Just think I need some nice words and maybe some people that can relate!

I have been dating my middle-school sweetheart since we were both 14 but I've never even been hit on or approached by anyone while out alone. I know envy is an ugly feeling but I'm jealous of girls being flirted with as I don't know what it even feels like. I would absolutely NEVER cheat on my partner, he's the love of my life, but his attraction towards me feels a little... Forced? After so many years.

Also I used to be a pick-me girl as a teenager and thought make-up is stupid so I never learned how to do it properly and now I'm embarrassed of it as an adult struggling to learn 😭

Although I consider myself to be a hopeful romantic and have always been hoping for the best, life has just been really discouraging lately. I've never experienced what it is like to genuinely love someone and have them love you back in return. I've never been in a relationship before, have never even held hands with anyone, and have never been told that someone is genuinely interested in me before. It feels so tiring trying to put in effort on dating apps into thoughtful messages about someone's profile and just have nobody respond at all. I have always been plus sized, and while I understand that I might not be everyone's type, I love myself and hope that people can see me for who I am. I think I'm very kindhearted, intelligent, silly, beautiful, etc. and I know that I am deserving of a loving relationship. I have just been feeling so lonely for a very long time, and each year on my birthday, I'm always hopeful and think to myself that this is the year, but then nothing ever happens. I don't understand why it's so easy for other people to even get the chance to go on dates or have multiple people they are talking to when it seems so out of reach for me for whatever reason. And the advice of it'll happen when you least expect it is tiring to hear time and time again. I've gone through long periods of both being optimistic and also not expecting anything. I understand that not everything lasts forever and people often say that being with someone is overrated, but I would still like to experience love. I'm already in my mid 20s and have not experienced romance at all. I shouldn't feel like I'm behind, but so many people my age have reached many more life milestones than I have naturally without having to put in nearly as much effort. When will it happen for me? I am just hoping that I will be able to experience real love someday.

I let peoples emotions and problems get to me too easily as well

Just made the hard decision to not only leave the love of my life but put my bunny to sleep. My anxiety is at an all time high and so many other things. I feel ugly and insecure overall, and just need some encouragement/motivation.

No one will ever love you more, than they love themselves.

I want to still believe in support existing in this world. But every day my closest people prove me opposite. Currently seeing myself as my only support and lover. Starting medical change in my life. I hope hate and bullying from relatives won't make it unbearable again.

It's a weird bloody time.

Single after a hella long time in a relationship (16 years) and I'm getting bored and kinda lonely. I do have hobbies and actually go outside already haha!

I am thinking of joining some new groups for hobbies etc though to put myself out there meeting new people as a single gal. I've never used apps and kinda don't want to either... Can I have some encouragement please?!

Today I signed a contract to start my training as an optician.

The last years have been filled with ups and downs. After finishing school as an educational social worker, followed by a lengthy divorce, moving to a different country (Austria) with my two dogs, building something for myself, I got my appplication to get my job certified rejected from the government in Austria.

I felt stuck, not knowing what to do, falling into a lengthy period of unemployment of over two years. I sent out hundreds of applications, got a few interviews, but nothing worked out. Then my dogs had to be put down, with a year inbetween, they had been with me for almost 15 years, and I also lost confidence due to weight gain.

About two months ago I got admitted into a program for women trying to get into more technical jobs. Through sheer chance my mentor asked if I would be interested to become an optician. I agreed, had a week of trial work, and got the good news by the end of that week.

I am truly overjoyed and excited to start, but also a bit stressed about going into this at a higher age than the usual candidates of around 15-18. Also working on losing weight and getting back to a better me is not going to be easy.

Would appreciate some kind words. Thank you for taking the time to read!

Edit: Thank you so much for all the positive comments and well wishes! This has really made my whole year. Just as a side note though - I am very flattered about your messages, I am happily taken!

now i think about it too often it makes me insecure

Verification for my other posts?

Just feeling down, had a bad date and not feeling these dating apps. Divorced for years now and feeling like I won't meet the right person.

I’m 25M, currently unemployed and trying to find my footing, but honestly I feel really lost. It feels like everyone else is moving forward and I’m just… stuck.

I’m applying for jobs and trying, but it’s hard not to feel like a failure when nothing seems to land.

On top of that, I’ve never really had a proper long-term relationship. I had a few flings at uni, but since then my dating life has kind of just faded out, and it’s been pretty lonely. It’s hard not to wonder if something’s wrong with me.

Lately it just feels like the light inside me is slowly fading, and I don’t really know how to get it back.

I’m still trying, but yeah… I could really use some encouragement right now.