50 CLAPS!
Ooh, I love your writing. Everything you said resonates with me. I always dated older men (they know just how to treat a woman) or so I thought. Life teaches you differently, though. I loved the nerd, the guy in the corner, the one who almost blushes when you talk to them. My love of 34 years though was NOT on my radar because he is a "jock." (Hiding my face here), but he is who I fell in love with. So there's that.
I like, and agree with the idea of opening yourself up to someone different. Someone you wouldn't normally date. Because of my traumatic childhood, I have trust issues and needed a guy who was willing to be patient.
Truth be told, I only dated one guy of colour (could have been due to the abuse I suffered) but I discovered early on that "my kind," didn't like how I looked. Colourism is very prevalent where I grew up, so the closer to white you looked, the more the guys wanted to date you. It's a sad reality I had a hard time accepting.

Frogs sometimes remain frogs, but once in a while, one of them turns into a prince.

Lastly, I liked being single. I thought it was great to have no ties, and just to enjoy my life.

Great article