Yep, I remember.
While we're on that side of this subject; if you're willing to talk about it; we're you 'burned' by someone (or more) that you were seeing? If so, what was the gist of the most impactful one?
One focus of psychological research would suggest that you had a close and secure relationship with your father.
Absolutely yes, me keeping me from getting prematurely attached. Mainly because they are a bad match, or someone who would be bad for anyone. Not so much because they may ultimately choose someone else. Pain and rejection come with life. We have to leave room for God, right?
Everybody has different life (dating) experiences. Perhaps some dating experiences were directed by our good God, or maybe none. Or maybe God has created good from them in the form of discernment and caution. I'm sure it's a mix of many things; and we just have to do our best to listen to God and gain wisdom.
I've been so blessed with knowing so many good people. And I know very well everyone is imperfect; otherwise, I wouldn't have so many close family and friends. But by-in-large my dating partners have been a disappointing contrast.
Is my selection process dysfunctional, poor luck of the draw, cultural issues, supernatural intervention?
Commonsense-wise, statistically, I would agree, if you somehow know a guy is meeting/talking to other women, it's less likely he prematurely attaches to you.
But you do have me curious, how do you define a guy getting inappropriately attached to you?
Inappropriate attachment exists of course
. But what is it? It's something worthwhile to think about. Is it only when you don't feel the same way? Is it time? Is it how much they really know you?
We know about love at first sight, and couples getting happily married for life after a few days. A very good match can happen, right? I
think we can discern when it's too soon based on the shared experience and commonsense; but is it inappropriate for someone to like you a lot before you like them? Surely that alone doesn't make it bad, evil, toxic, or a "red flag", right? People can tap any necessary relationship brakes without a breakup, right?, without the need of you "pushing them away" as you put it? To make space for a healthy relationship, can you imagine a scenario where it's okay, and one where it's not?