Hi ladies,

I’m 23 (turning 24 soon), working full‑time while studying for the bar, and getting ready to move into my first apartment. Six months ago, the man I thought I’d marry ended our courtship. We had agreed on marriage early on, but eventually realized we didn’t share the same definition of what a marriage should look like. His parents’ divorce shaped his views, and for me it became a dealbreaker. It was my only relationship, about a year long, and it was peaceful and intentional, so the loss has been hard.

Since then, I’ve preparing for baptism this Easter, which has helped me stay grounded. At the same time, my mom has been pressuring me to “find someone and get married,” and it’s been weighing on me. I’ve tried dating apps, but I’m not finding men with the same values or seriousness my former suitor had. I’ve recently joined young adult events centered around my faith and starting to meet people, but still very recent.

Between work, studying, healing, and trying to stay strong in my faith, I feel stretched thin. I’m doing my best to become steady and grounded again, but it’s been overwhelming.

For those who’ve been through something similar, how did you find your footing again?