It's kind of a weird situation where I'm not quite sure where this will go. Thankfully, there's communication. She's still raw from her breakup which I get because I'm still not ready for anything serious after my recent break up. We agreed that we're still friends and we're not going to push for anything and give each other space as needed. Instead, we'll just let things be organic as they've been and see where they go. This is uncharted territory for me, so if anyone has any similar experience, I'd love to hear it.
Sometimes women are very confused after a breakup/divorce/what have you (I had a similar situation with another gal who was totally into me), so I would definitely suggest, yes, play it slow and go with the flow. Don't try to rush anything or set any expectations. It's very easy to start with a plan to take things slow and then ditch it later because you feel time has passed, but at the end of the day, she has to be there, and I feel guys are more prone than ladies to rush it.
If it doesn't work, at least you didn't set high expectations or get overly committed before she was, and if it does, it'll likely be because you didn't rush it.
My one cent.
Man, I moan about how I feel unwanted, but the moment I get a match on any sort of dating app my anxiety goes into absolute overdrive.
I push opportunities away.
Can you imagine, me? On a date? The idea is legitimately pants shittingly horrifying. I can't do it. I can't ask someone on a date.
They'd never like me. I'm autistic and awkward and weird. I just cannot reconcile with the idea that a date could go well for me.
Remember that there's no commitment with the talking phase, so there's nothing to be nervous about. For me, I'm funnier in person than I am on this board, so I actually would ask ladies without profiles, "So, if you had a profile, what would it say?" and sometimes they'd unmatch, and sometimes they found that really funny (I did that with my current g/f). But that's something I do because it's me.
It's cliché, but the key is to be you. Yeah, when you first meet someone, you're not 100% in your element because you probably subconsciously act different toward certain people, and that's totally cool, but don't try to be a different character. Even people who think they're being themselves are overcompensating, being too nervous, overusing laughs in chats because they feel they have to, and it's more like, what would you say to that person if you were in person and just having a conversation?
That route works because your true self ain't gonna be hidden for long, so might as well just be
you and let them like or not like you.