first, you cannot lose time. what you have built up and gained cannot be lost. You can of course connect with someone that's not good for you but that's the risk we take with women (or men in the case of women). They can't take away anything that you've gained.

Furthermore, if you have grown and matured, learned anything the past 15 yrs, it may be the case where now is a much better time to do so. Perhaps what you know of yourself will be the thing that helps you to make the right decision, not only that be better in a relationship anyway.

I don't say that out of the blue either. I have spent a good amount of the last 4+ years without being attached. for me, I'm not looking actively but kind of hope something will happen.. but that being said I KNOW that I have grown a lot on my own. it still may end up not working out but if I find someone to date, I know I'm far more prepared now than before when I only knew life with a mate.