40s Singleness-Dating in Your 40s

Here's the thing. I never claimed to be a dating expert. Someone called me a dating guru once, but I'm pretty sure he'd been drinking...a lot! The truth of the matter is I'm not an expert. I'm just a 40something girl who's trying to muddle her way the challenges of dating in her 40s, and I have learned some things along the way. Things that I hope will help others trying to figure it all out.

Lord knows there are tons of dating/relationship blogs out there. There are dating/relationship articles on Match.com, Yahoo personals, MSN, etc. etc. Some are authored by dating experts-dating coaches, psychologists, counselors. And some are written by everyday, ordinary people who have learned some things in their dating/relationship journey.

In my case, what I've learned, even recently, has been invaluable for me to find the partner and relationship I'm looking for. The one I deserve. So, while I may not be an expert, there are some things that I know.

*I know that dating in your 40s is very different from dating in your younger years. It brings with it a whole new set of challenges.

*I know that some dating issues are universal. Whether you're 40someting or 20something, there are some things that transcend those age lines.

*I know that I have learned so much from other peoples' experiences. Therefore, I hope others can learn from mine.

*I know that I have come a hella long way from where I started. While, I don't pretend to have all the answers, I have a lot more answers than I did in the beginning.

*I know that I have also learned from your comments and the discussions that have taken place here and, again, I hope others have as well.

*I know that 40s Singleness is, for me, about my journey. I write to learn things about myself, to process things that have happened in my dating life, to share that journey.

I never set out to do anything but share my experiences with other people facing the same challenges and yet, I believe, experience is in itself the best teacher. So if you're here because you've been tippin' the bottle and you think I'm a dating guru, you'd better click the little X and move on.

On the other hand, if you're here because you enjoy learning a little something as I stumble along the path and you're enjoying the journey, please stick around and come back often. There's still a lot to learn; still a long ways to go.

Have I learned it all? Do I have all the answers? Unequivocally, no! I'm still learning; still wandering along the path figuring things out. I'm taking the journey one step at a time and, sometimes, I take a couple of steps back which serves to remind me there's still a lot to learn. From all of this I have learned it's not so much the destination, but the journey that matters.

Thoughts?