Since you don't have any experience dating I would HIGHLY recommend the book "The Rules"....I know they seem a little old fashioned and it's a 90's book, but they REALLY work....It's a great set of ways to act so that guys respect you and you don't act desperate (and hence get more guys). It also is a surefire way to weed out the loosers because loosers aren't willing to put time and effort into pursuing you.

I also was a little late onto the dating scene, got my first kiss at 19.

I met my hubby in the 8th grade. We dated once in the 9th grade, stayed friends and then go back together our senior year. I think marrying someone who is your friend first is a good thing.

Dh was my first for mostly everything.

Why wait? Do it now, life is too short to wait and put things off. You may not meet the man of your dreams but you're sure to make friends and that is never a bad thing so as the Nike advert use to say, Just do it!

I'm kinda in the same boat. I'm 29, and have very little experience. I'm not sure what to do anymore. I joined a online dating site, and have gotten a few emails, but when I do, I clam up and don't continue anything about it. I want a relationship badly. It's not easy being the oldest of 3 and having my younger siblings married and be married this summer. I almost feel like a complete outsider to the family bc I am one of the oldest and the only one alone. I don't know if I feel like if I don't like the way I look, how can I expect anyone else to, or what the problem is. I like attn from men...I've talked with some great guys from online forums and fall for them, but they live way to far away....

BornToFly, I can relate to what you're saying. You and I are the same age and I think the older you get without having been in a serious relationship the harder it is not to appear too desperate. I'm one of those women that's always done exactly what I've wanted when I wanted, but relationships continued to elude me. I would try looking for relationships then try not looking both equaling the same kinds of results more or less. And I personally hate and resent it when women are considered desperate or "thirsty" for a man simply because they want a relationship and are very cleare about what they want.

I've been dating a really interesting guy for almost a month now and I'm trying not to get too anxious and just relax into it but it is hard, especially considering the fact that I've been single for so long. I have a lot of other things going on in my life, but being in a relationship is something that has been missing and that's the one thing I haven't had that I want, so I've focused a lot of mental energy on it.

I don't know, overall I think you just have to try a bunch of different things and figure out what works for you. For every woman that's every followed something like "The Rules" there's a woman who did the exact opposite to meet the person they are with now. The best thing is to just be open to any situation.

I'm not a big fan of "The Rules", but everyone is different. My suggestions are to just be yourself, don't play head games, and be kind, considerate and open-minded. I hope you find a nice man who can appreciate you! Good luck!

I totally hear what your saying. I hope I don't appear desperate. I don't think I do, but I do think it's one thing I really am missing. I want to share my life with someone. I just don't know why when it seems like it might come along I shy away from it. Just doesn't make any sense at all! I want to meet guys, and have been asked, but I clam up. I don't know if I'm scared they will realize I am not very experienced and run away, and I"ll be left with a broken heart...

I met one boyfriend online and dated a couple others from the same site (rsvp.com) - I have also tried speed dating which was awesome fun lol. I didn't see any of the guys I met there again but that was more for reasons to do with my current BF.

My current guy I actually met while out clubbing - and very very drunk...on my birthday...while escaping another guy who I knew from Uni and was creepy. All I remembered in the morning was that he was very tall and had blue eyes lol (my BF not the creep :P)

It definitely happens when you least expect it. When I met Paul I didn't want a boyfriend AT ALL as I'd just had a nasty break up barely a month earlier.