My daughter (22) is a Nurse (since May) who has been so dedicated & disciplined during 4 yrs @ Univ. that she earned honors, however is at least as inexperienced w/ b-f’s as you. She dated one of her best friends for a few weeks last fall, but learned he was too immature for that relationship. I have always encouraged her to work hard & travel (at least until she is 32+- & after life has introduced some of its tough lessons in reality & involuntary self-change & growth) which she started to do w/ a 2 mth. work term in Honduras (Feb & Mar.) & loved the experience. It’s so much more exciting & fulfilling to master an envigorating, productive life. In fact without it, self-esteem suffers, & folks end up w/ low s-esteem partners by lazy default. High s-esteem ought never mix with low or mid-level others, if happiness & security are important.
At 52, I only know 1 abidingly happy married couple (by my own subjective standards.) All are in “closed ended” relationships & this does not bode well in the longer-term. Relationships are revolutionizing as we speak, away from interdependence toward far more friendship, openness & honesty, & that is finally a tremendous advance for humans globally. I once watched a determined gal on Oprah claim that she “dated” 3500 men for 5 minutes or more, in order to find abiding happiness. Yikes, huh!?
In my fatherly opinion, no gal should be grieving the lack a “permanent-style” relationship until they’ve read the four most important, honest books I’ve ever heard of on the subject:
~“Open Marriage” Nena & George O’Neill (Crucial)
~“The Baby Trap” by Ellen Peck
~“The Story” by Mark Hamilton (free at scribd.com)
~and finally, anything by Dr. Nathaniel Branden on relationships (the ‘father’ of “self-esteem.)
Aside from those, the web is exploding with so much. For a gal to really understand what happens in relationships from a man’s perspective, I’ve learned more from the sublime, refreshing DrLove at AskMen.com than all other sources put together, & I suggest any man go there to finally wipe out all wussy self-pity & confusion ~ & for gals to learn how to manage their lover. (Yes! He does need management from his woman ~ manipulate him toward his own self-interest, & you’ll remain in his dreams!)
Otherwise, it’s important for us not to be creating problems where none exist ~ which I fear you are doing. Allow for your own natural evolution without such untoward pressure from others & society. They are wrong on most everything, & don’t ever forget that!
I suggest to join any of a variety of networks or clubs, where substantial, honest, real, net-productive men, whom you can invest your life & energy in, &feel honor toward, are involved doing something life-lifting & productive. Learn a language, do community service, … . 95% of people spend more energy & consideration choosing a car than their sig-other. Don’t have one of those typical “accidents,” ‘cause there’s no “practice” run in life.