At 45, I find myself still single, and at times, it feels like I’m standing at the edge of something I may never fully reach—true love. It’s not that I haven’t tried. I’ve been on dates, met new people, had a few meaningful connections, but somehow, I’ve never found that one person who makes everything feel right. And with every passing year, I can’t help but wonder—Is it harder to find true love nowadays?

I watch my friends settle into relationships, marriages, and families, and I’m happy for them, I really am. But I can’t help but feel a bit left behind. It seems like everyone around me has found their match, while I’m still out here, navigating the complexities of modern dating, trying to figure out what went wrong and why I haven’t found someone who feels like home.

Maybe it’s the dating apps, where people swipe right or left as if love is a game of chance. Or maybe it’s the pressure to keep up with the fast-paced, instant-gratification world we live in—where relationships often seem disposable. It feels like people are too focused on finding perfection, and in doing so, they miss out on the beauty of building something real.

Sometimes, I wonder if it’s my age. At 45, I’m no longer the young, carefree woman I was in my twenties or thirties. Maybe the idea of starting over with someone new doesn’t seem as appealing to men who are looking for someone younger, someone without baggage, someone who hasn’t already experienced life. And yet, deep down, I know that true love isn’t about age, it’s about connection.

It’s not that I’ve given up, but the longer I wait, the more I question whether my fairy tale is still out there. I’ve learned to love myself, to enjoy my own company, and to be content with the life I’ve built. But there’s always that little ache, that longing for someone to share the rest of this journey with—someone who will see me for all that I am, someone who will accept my flaws, my imperfections, and love me all the more for them.

Is it hard to find true love nowadays? Maybe. But I refuse to believe it’s impossible. There’s still time. And as much as it feels like love is slipping through my fingers, I know deep down that sometimes, it’s the waiting that makes it all the more worthwhile.