Everyone knew he was classic Ted Mosby. But honestly, the alternative, a life without feeling, he decided was not worth living. He puts himself out there. He lets himself attach to emotions too soon. It’s not an issue of daydreaming or even lack of confidence wherein a particular person shows him the slightest bit of interest so he falls in love. It’s none of that at all. It’s a feeling of, hey, I like you. And why should he hold that back?
People say you don’t have to be miserable, you don’t have to feel like that, you can change, you can adapt. Why? So he can bed more women? He graduated college and matured. He’s looking for actual emotion, a connection. He doesn’t want to adapt or change! He doesn’t see a problem with being forthcoming and showing emotion. If he changes and adapts, he doesn’t feel anymore. Women become objects. He never develops a meaningful relationship with anyone because he’s simply using them. He can’t do that; that’s not him.
He jumps. He leads with his heart, not knowing if he’ll win or lose and yet, he always leads with his heart. Most times, actually, every time thus far, he falls flat on his face. But, he gets up, dusts himself off, meets someone new and jumps again. He doesn’t jump because he likes getting pummeled in the face. He jumps because it’s the only way he knows. Why should he act aloof and nonchalant toward someone he obviously has feelings for?
He’s an old spirit and doesn’t like the current dating scene. He knows one man can’t change it and is willing to accept that and yet, he’s still not willing to change himself.
He finally met someone and it was going well. But now, he’s been forced to spend time away from her. All he knows is right now is he is miserable. And yet, he can’t stop thinking about her. For a million reasons he can’t explain, he wants to see her again.
He thought things were going well because she not only told him she liked him and liked spending time with him but also by her actions. She was excited about spending time with him. So what happened? He knows it could be a million different things and he knows he’s not entitled to an answer.
People say it’s a numbers game. Meet as many women as you can. When he decided a few months ago it was time to get back at it, that’s what he endeavored to do. His bank account will agree that he’s been on his fair share of dates the past few weeks and months. But no one stood out like her. No one. No one clicked with him. No one laughed at his stupid jokes. No one was genuinely interested in him. No one could hold great conversation on endless topics. No one but her.
So where did he go wrong? Sure, maybe this wasn’t meant to work out. Sometimes, things just end. And that happens. And he has to accept it and move on. But he’s never had something just end that felt so right. It didn’t seem that this had run its course yet, not something where he was having a genuinely good time, or so he thought.
The ultimate question is, like Ted Mosby, is this man so badly searching for love, he’ll find it in the wrong places with anyone? He doesn’t have an answer for that. He wishes he did because then this would be so much easier. And yet, maybe he doesn’t wish it was easier, because then he wouldn’t have all these emotions that make life worth living.