I love FDS. I am so glad women feel the same things I've been feeling and thinking for YEARS. I wish I discovered this sub before I started dating my bf. I mentioned in another post that he doesn't initiate dates. I met him on OLD, and am worried that he's just hanging out for the ride because he doesn't have much going on in his life. I learned he also browsed NUMEROUS dating sites before we started dating, and it seems like I'm the only one who worked out. He's not a bad guy, but its mediocre and he doesn't treat me the way a man would treat his "dreamgirl" I love him, I really fell in love with him but now I love myself more. I asked for more dates, he half assed it. I'm only going to put in the effort he puts in anymore and if I'm not his "dreamgirl" he's not going to feel like working for this relationship and it will show.

I'm starting to really value myself more than ever and realize it's okay for me to have standards. I'm not an entitled bitch for asking for romance. I read FDS on top of incorporating a bunch of lifestyle changes and attitude changes to recover from a lifetime of female socialization. I write myself positive notes, been eating better and decluttering my entire life. I stopped pining on my boyfriend so much. Now he texts first, and I don't text him anymore while I'm at work. I stopped making plans with him, now I'm letting him ask me to hang out. I also stopped sleeping over his house because I have my own morning and night routine I attend to. I'm taking away this aspect of the relationship dominating the routines of my life, and my time. I'm developing a "let it be" attitude. I'm even slowly starting to get over all my insecurities about the way I look. For the first time since I was 14, I stopped taking relationships seriously.

I'm much happier this way. After channeling this energy, my apartment has been more tidy, I spend less time mulling over my outfit of the day and how I look, I get more stuff done, my mind feels clear. I'm enjoying life more, even on the simple days I'm not doing much. Just sitting at my place eating breakfast quietly has been an absolute tranquil experience.

I live inside myself instead of living outside my body and observing myself through this patriarchal lens.

I have detached myself from my relationship (it's fairly new, only a few months in) and am treating it like a Sunday brunch instead of building a future with someone I barely know yet (I would say 1+ year you really know someone).

This sub has valuable information. Its a shame people think its a cesspool of hate because I find that it's encouraged me to love myself more. This is the biggest breakthrough in my life tbh.