"Men Can't Handle Being Alone; They Need a Woman"

Yes, I’m afraid of being alone. No matter how much I insist — convincingly, even — that I don’t care about society’s expectations and that marriage is an outdated, forced thing, deep down all I want is a woman I can count on, someone to cuddle with and promise to stay by each other’s side forever, no matter what.

I fear being alone, but even more, I fear marrying someone who then completely changes. Two of my friends and a coworker went through this. Until the wedding, their wives were loving and devoted, but afterward, they turned into harpies. One hasn’t wanted sex since, another won’t let my friend go out for a beer. Since his wedding two years ago, he’s only joined us once and said he won’t again because his wife sulked for two weeks. My coworker’s wife refuses to work or manage the household since getting married. I’m more afraid of a "partner" like that than of staying single forever.

I’m not afraid — actually, I’m looking forward to it! If I don’t find a good woman, I won’t despair. I’ve got a plan: I’ll move into a cool retirement home and charm every well-kept lady there. Surprised? My mom works in a senior home and tells me the residents are quite active romantically. There are flings, breakups, love triangles, jealousy, even fights — everything you’d expect. I can’t wait.

I’m not just afraid, I’m terrified. My grandmother passed away at 65, and grandpa lived another 20 years without her. After losing her, he never really found himself again. My dad’s been completely lost since my mom left him when they were 50. He has no friends, no contact with relatives — only me — and I can see how much he suffers. Mom never remarried but is doing well, traveling and socializing, still the heart of the family. Men just can’t handle being alone; they need a woman.

I’m not afraid because I’ve always been alone and already know I’ll be alone in old age. I’m not happy about it or looking forward to it, but I can’t say I’m scared. I’ve accepted it.

I had a long relationship, but she left me — she found someone better — and now she has kids while I’m alone. She was my last girlfriend, and the breakup crushed me for years. I simply couldn’t move on and maybe never will. I tried dating, but no luck, and I’ve been single for almost ten years. I don’t even know how to be in a relationship anymore. I probably won’t have anyone. I wouldn’t admit this to others, but here, anonymously online, I can say I’m afraid of loneliness.

I fear loneliness because I’ve never been truly alone. When I left home, I immediately moved in with my first girlfriend, and since then, I’ve only had short breaks between relationships — at most one or two months. Essentially, I fear the unknown because I haven’t experienced long-term solitude yet. Maybe it would even be good for me to spend some time with myself...

No, because it’s better to be alone than with someone you shouldn’t be with. My mom was a terrible person, probably suffering from some undiagnosed mental illness that the family paid for. She made my dad’s life a living hell. I promised myself young that I would never chain myself to anyone.

All my life, I was a big ladies’ man, so the idea of being alone never came up. But now, past forty, a little worry has crept in about what if I don’t find a partner. My friends complain about their wives, but it’s clear they really love them. Supposedly, they envy me — the eternal bachelor — but lately, the tables have turned, and I envy them.

Yes, because every elderly woman I know who lives alone is doing well, but every elderly man living alone is miserable. They become bitter, rude, or eccentric old men.

Photos: istockphoto.com, pexels.com

"Men Can't Handle Being Alone; They Need a Woman" – Men Open Up About Loneliness

False Rebellion

No

Plans

Like a Dad

The Natural Order

The Breakup

Yes

Decision

Playboy

Observation

Only on Bienvibe

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