Although, I would like to suggest womething to you. The times that age differences have become an issue for me has never been about age — it has been about the miles. At 18 I was a senior in high school. If I had been dating a 23-year old man, it is likely that he would have been out of college and starting his career. Now, five years may not seem like a lot of time, but the amount of experience a person gains and the maturing that happens from age 18 to 23 can potentially be vast.

As another example, a few years ago I went on a date with a man that (I found out after the fact) was over 10 years older than me. I learned while on our date, that he was divorced and had an 18-year-old adult child. I was only 27 and that FREAKED me out. Also, at one point in during the date he mentioned the year he graduated from high schiil — 1988 — and it occured to me that I was in the third grade that year. Yeah, it grossed me out.

However, recently I have been seeing a man who is also about ten years older than me. Buthe has never been married and has no children. We have had more similar experiences in life and the age difference never grosses me out. Perhaps he’s more immature than the other man. At any rate, I guess I’m saying — in general — it’s probably better to stick to people your own age because you are more likely to have a similar maturity level and to be in the same place in life.

I do a have a few questions for you though. Why are you attracted to women who are 23? Why aren’t you attracted to women who are 18, 19, 20? Why are you afraid to ask older women out? Do you lack something you think they want?

I remember burying my head in my hands having to give my age to an online dating site. I figured that I would not be searched for because the age rage of the women I was attracted to, was much younger than me. I was afraid to be instantly ruled out and honestly I was, and with good reason. If a woman does not want to date someone twice her age that is her choice and I should respect that.

However I once used a social site and gave a false age as an act of desperation. I look a lot younger than I am so it worked. I got responses I never had received with my real age. But it only took about a week before a woman called me out on it and I felt miserable for doing it.

Through that same social site I noticed that this happened. When I found myself not caring about the age difference, and even found it quite humorous to ask a hot twenty year old “So. How does it feel to be attracted to a man almost twice your age?”, they loved it. I wouldn’t advertise it but my age was prominently displayed. There were no secrets. Most of the time our interactions were so fun and flirty they didn’t seem to care. Of course there were a few in which it did matter so we stayed as just fun friends; but I was okay with it.
The wonderful woman I am seeing exclusively right now is half my age and we could not be happier with each other. My advice for Todd above would be to use it to your advantage. First develop yourself into a complete man and let women feel that in you. It’s exciting for most women to meet a younger man that his his life together. This is one reason why I find it easy to date younger women. Men at her age can be very immature and she wants a strong masculine presence in her life. Secondly, turn the tables around towards her. My girlfriend say things to me like SHE is robbing the cradle when the opposite is true. I say things like, “When I get older you’re going to love me more.” and we role play with it. It’s fun and flirty. Just please remember to never use someone else as comparison to build yourself.
When I get approached by an older woman asking my age I sometimes reply with something like, “I’m 17. I’m so glad my mother increased my curfew otherwise I wouldn’t have met you.”, but then again I’m a bust balls kind of person. When it comes down to having a great conversation with someone I am attracted to, our age difference is boring and overdone. So it’s not too difficult to not even mention it. If you are discussing things that excite you both, such as your common interests, the subject will come up on it’s own and usually by then it’s too late. She will already be so attracted to you, your age won’t matter much at all. Just make the connection with her first.

Is life a mirror? Perhaps at times…. I see this as an arbitrary statement and certainly don’t take it for the gospel.

While a positive attitude will go far, often luck/timing/environment and miscellaneous circumstances play a pivotal role in ones personal/social/professional advancement.

As a musician, in my field talent is critical. What I have learned to be equally (if not more!) important, however, is networking and social contacts.

That was a great inspiring story from you! I also believe that nothing is more fulfilling than living a balanced lifestyle!