Following a divorce in 2019, I felt lost in the dating scene until I discovered a passion for hiking during the pandemic. Initially apprehensive and focusing on self-improvement, I unexpectedly connected with an old college friend through hiking. This newfound activity not only provided an outlet but ultimately led me to explore romantic possibilities in a genuine way as I reached out to him for a hike, marking the beginning of our relationship.
Instead, I ventured out with friends in my pod or other people I knew. I kept to myself. I was focusing on me, not on dating.
One particularly slow workday in September, I worked up the nerve to send him a direct message. As I typed, I asked myself what the worst he could say to me: a no?
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