Dating now I am 30 is so, genuinely, wonderful. I'm talking to her and we both agree, we just want to make meaningful connections, and if something grows from there, it's wonderful regardless.
I was talking to one of my married friends about how this guy said it was intimidating on how incredibly loved I was; up to that point, everyone noted it as like, a weapon or something, like I am so loved, be scared of that. And he smiles, and goes, "you are beloved. Some people are scared of that, but you'll find people who won't," he laughs, "you are beloved. Yeah."
She listens to me prattle on about a recipe I've perfected for years, that I can't eat because it contains things I'm allergic to in it. She pauses, and asks, "why did you spend so long perfecting it if you can't eat it? Why not make a recipe you can eat too?"
I tell her, it's not about me. It's the gesture that I made this for you. I wanted it to be as good as I could ever make it, and I've made it for you, and I will continue to make it for you.
She goes, "oh, it's made of your love."