Question for all WOMEN. I'm a guy and need to know.

I'm sure if you are now decent, loving life and working hard at Uni, any girl who likes what they know of you now will see you're working just as hard to make something of yourself. Everyone has a past and as long as you learn from it thats all that matters and a decent girl will see that.

I think you are absolutely on the right track, but stay on it and don't worry about dating at the moment. Get on track, love yourself and find a passion that lights a fire under your ***. That's when you find someone. You have your own life that you're happy with and aren't desperately longing for someone. That's when "someone" will show up.

I have a colorful past but the point is it is totally in my past. I feel you, I just started seeing someone and am nervous about mentioning it, but I'm absolutely a better person now.

I def would not look to be dating if you are not working at least part time.
I dont think your past is the problem, I think its amazing that you have imporved your life.
But if you are not working, there arent a lot of cheap date options, espcially in the winter.
If you start to date, then you may get depressed because you cant afford to get her even the smallest thing, IE Card, single flower.
I think you need to keep working on you, and make friends.
If the right one comes along, then she comes along.

I've heard many excellent suggestions above, so I won't try to reiterate them.

I will say, however, that when we begin drinking and/or using drugs steadily at a young age, we stunt our emotional growth. Because we used alcohol or drugs to cope with difficult or uncomfortable situations, we never learned the healthy coping skills of an adult. This means that any emotional difficulties have the capacity to rock us pretty hard, causing us to act inappropriately, and sometimes even to relapse (is that what happened when you drank the two times over the last year?) because we don't know of any other way to deal with emotions.

Yes, there is a recommendation that we don't get involved in an emotional relationship for a year after we get (and STAY) sober. But that is a blanket suggestion that is more for the purpose of discouraging folks to latch onto the first sympathetic person who comes along and will tolerate them. The deeper and more appropriate suggestion is that we don't get involved in a relationship until we are emotionally mature enough to handle it, and to be a good partner.

Sobriety goes much deeper than just not drinking (or using drugs). It means changing those parts of ourselves that kept us drinking and using for so long in the first place. That takes hard work in some sort of a spiritual program (like AA). It doesn't mean you have to be religious. But it does mean that trying to live a better, more spiritual life (trying to be the best person we can possibly become) will certainly speed the maturing process along.

I'm a recovering Alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in years. I'm very active in maintaining my sobriety. My fiance is a recovering addict with a very scary past. But because he demonstrates the willingness to change, to be the best man he can be, and a desire to make sincere amends for his past by changing his behavior and growing up, I gave him a chance. Granted, he was living with his folks when we met, but that was for the sake of his sobriety; he had actually been married and owned several homes of his own previously, or I would not have given him the chance. A man who has never taken the initiative to live on his own and take care of the responsibilities entailed in that is not a man I would have been interested in. Likewise with a man who did not have a job and was not actively looking for one. I completed my university studies while working full-time, so a man who was in school and not working at least part time (unless he had previously saved enough money to enable him to study without working) would just seem lazy to me.

I commend you on turning your life around. You have made a great deal of progress. But take it from one who knows: there's a long way to go yet. Keep moving forward, or you'll fall backward. I suggest you focus on your own emotional growth, doing well in school, and becoming more independent before you go looking for someone to share your life with. Ask yourself this: "What do I have to offer in an adult relationship?" Work on cultivating those things that are missing. The better person you become, the better person you will attract.

I promise if you focus on your own growth first, the wait will be worth it.

Namaste!

Ok, for those of you saying "none of his past should matter"...YOU ARE IDIOTS. Sorry. But it must be said. A person's past most certainly does matter!!!!

The past as they say is the best indicator of the future. HOWEVER...it is NOT THE ONLY indicator....the PRESENT is just as important!

Fact is you have a pretty checkered past. Many of us do. Your past shows lack of self control, lack of responsibility, lack of ambition, lack of independence....the list goes on. These "issues" you speak of translate to women. While women don't
"need a man" these days, we have jobs and homes and do quite well for ourselves...there is a very attractive quality to a man who has his **** together.

We can try to be all touchy feely here, but the fact is that kind of history is scary for a "healthy" girl looking for a possible "stable" long term mate.

1. History of severe alcoholism means signing up for a life long battle.
2. Lack of job until age 36 means lack of marketable skills, lower earning potential.
3. Lack of moving out of your parent's house means you have never had to be financially responsible for yourself...you have been indulged and taken care of your entire life. You want a woman by your side not another mommy.

All that being said.... look where you are today... SOBER...IN SCHOOL...these are awesome accomplishments!!! You should be very proud and encouraged by how far you have come!!!

My advice is to continue to focus on you I agree with the other comment, that your chances of successfully staying sober will greatly increase with participation in a program.

Get a job. Any job. Choose a job. I know school is taking up your time and you are finding your way. But a job, earning your own money no matter how little feels great! Besides, you are going to need your own money to take a girl out. Because you are a gentleman.

Most imprtantly. Know who you are. Where you have been. Where you are going and what it takes to get there.

Avoid this: "yeah so I have been a mess my entire life... boo hoo... my sad story...so I now I'm trying"

TRY THIS: "This is me, this is what I am up to today, this is where I am headed tomorrow. Yeah, I got some crap in my past, that was that." No crazy elaborations...just short and simple. Empowered and moving to the future is way hotter than damaged and stuck in the past.

You will be fine. After all, this isn't what you need to talk about on a first date (or 3)

Remember, if you make a big enough deal of it it will scary anyone WORTH having away.
If you own it but don't dwell on it or let it define you...then it can't hold you back.

A good girl with see the man you are today....so keep working on THAT guy

Oh, one last thing...beware the types of girls you choose. It may be very easy to be attracted to people who have struggled the same struggles you have...on one hand that can be a great relationship builder...you can share and understand each other. BUT if you are trying to leave your past behind, perhaps consider that two people struggling can also feed each others bad habits. Only you can decide if you are strong enough to support someone else without falling yourself.

I wish you the best

My point is none of that should matter. Liking someone isn't based off their past, their job, or where they live. Or at least it shouldn't be. If she honestly cares enough about all that crap, she's not worth your time.

These are my thoughts exactly!! If she is the right person for you to be in a relationship with then she will be more interested in who you are now instead of who you were. It sounds like you are doing great now. Just try to be open minded and understanding of issues your potential girlfriend may have as well. Everyone has a past and things they aren't proud of.

Remember too that many women in your age range will have children. I'd be VERY hesitant to have someone around my kids who lives with their parents, doesn't have a job, and is an alcoholic. An alcoholic in recovery is one thing, but you're still having drinks once in a while.

You're making strides, and that's to be commended. But you've got a ways to go still, and you're better off working on you, than a relationship, at this point.

What she said, and jobs are great for self image.

If you are progressing toward a change then no one should judge your past. if you weren't planning on moving upward and onward then you would probably get the eye roll. Just know that you feeling good about yourself is awesome. If a girl can't see past your past then know that she couldn't be someone who will help support you and build you up in a relationship and you don't need her wasting your time anyway. capiche?

It's not necessarily about who you were so much as who you're gonna be. The right girl will recognize that. And the right girl will likely have her own "skeletons". Don't let who you were define who you are now, simply because THAT ISN'T YOU ANYMORE. You're a catch, get used to it

If it was me i would be leery of getting serious with a guy like that. But actions speak pretty loud. From what it sounds like, you have almost completely turned around and are getting serious about life. Which is good. Overall, i would say you are doing great and i wouldn't turn you down because of all you have been threw. Everyone has done things they dont like. But you should def get a job because that would make you look kind of bad with all that has happened.