Time is short

I've mentioned why I don't date anymore, but it really boils down to a basic truth that time is a non-replenishable resource for us humans. Once gone, it's gone. Dating requires genuine intention for the participants to commit their time. The less time you have, the more you look for those genuine signals, the more important they become. Since you don't have more to continually dedicate to the endeavour, and it's always slowly draining away, you begin to consider what other things you can spend your time on. When you're treated to a few hundred no-shows, it becomes clear that you and your time isn't respected, since the participant can't express disinterest or their rejection like and adult (yes, I understand fears and jitters very well, but at some point they are to be expressed and conquered) They say it takes around 10,000 hours to master something. I've easily spend far more than that both in raw hours, and the hours I converted into (wasted) money, on the ritual known as dating. That time was properly squandered in hindsight - I could have learned more skills and become a more complete human that way (curse me for being a romantic I suppose) The good news is that we're all capable of learning. Once I could no longer see genuine signals, and the lessons of what it costs in time, I could make better decisions. And dropping dating entirely has been one of the best. Will I find someone? Honestly? Probably not. Society continually tips towards basal material desires in the other person, has heavily mixed messaging on persuing a love interest, and has removed any semblance of privacy or trust. It's simply not the world for me