I did not get married until I was 39 I did not meet and start dating my husband until I was 34. Everything that came before was "practice". It takes time and effort to learn how to relate to others to get comfortable with initiating conversation and responding to others, etc. I doubt it will take you all your life, but you have not failed yet, you have just learned some of the lessons necessary. It's fine to say/know, "I'm afraid" but then you get your lesson and regret having not spoken up and that puts the experience of your fear front and center where you have to decide, do I want to be alone and lonely or do I want to learn to respond bravely and put myself out there, vulnerable, to see if I can win the prize?