At 26, Mia felt like she was in a great place in life. She was finishing her undergraduate degree, thriving in her career, and earning enough to feel stable and confident about her future. Yet, when it came to dating, things weren’t clicking.
Mia had been single for a while and was ready to find someone who shared her values someone stable, career-focused, and serious about their goals. But every guy she met seemed to fall short. Some weren’t interested in settling down. Others lacked steady jobs or seemed more interested in partying and smoking than building a future. Then there were the men with kids, which she wasn’t ready for, and the ones who were married but not acting like it. It was exhausting.
She wasn’t a fan of dating apps, having tried them enough to know they weren’t for her. Mia preferred to meet people naturally, in environments where genuine connections could happen. But where could she go to find like-minded singles who were on the same path as her?
Mia started brainstorming. Her hobbies were diverse traveling, volunteering, trying new restaurants, shopping, and spending quality time with family and friends. These activities brought her joy, but meeting someone who truly connected with her values remained elusive.
When she asked for advice, a friend suggested she try engaging in hobbies where like-minded people might gather. Maybe a travel group or a volunteer project? Someone else mentioned networking events, as they often attracted goal-oriented individuals. Mia thought about it. She loved the idea of meeting someone at a wine tasting or a community fundraiser.
Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the hardest part wasn’t finding events or hobbies, it was finding genuine people. In her experience, authenticity in the dating world was rare. For now, she decided to focus on enjoying her life and staying open to new possibilities. Hopefully, the right person would come along when she least expected it.