@Shelbyville and @Sammy
I think I have made some assumptions there, my bad.

Shelbyville I just thought the quietness was you gearing up for your first Xmas with your new BF. I didn’t realise you have so much on your plate and I apologise for adding pressure needlessly by assuming Sammy was awaiting your response. Sammy again I’m sorry to you too if it felt like a negative implication and for speaking on your behalf without thinking. You’ve come incredibly far, so resilient and should be extremely proud at your own strength and progress.

@Shelbyville if a tenancy agreement has been executed then getting your deposit back will be difficult as you’ll have been in breach of the contract if you didn’t move in. Contact Citizens Advice, 2 bags is a substantial amount to throw away. It’s going to be babies galore come this new year. My bro in laws partner is expecting too! Appears everyone got jiggy with it (@Tim 😉) over lockdown! Good luck to your sis and new arrival!

Thank you both for your advice, I think I just worked myself up as I desperately wanted to impress her folks – Mrs ‘B’ is a G! Her dad who if I’m being honest was a little stand-offish at first. I think if I felt disapproval of any kind it would eat away at me because it is family is a huge part of who ‘B’ is. So it was starting to panic me that I was not being well received. Incredible how it can take you right back to those nasty self doubts and feelings as an awkward unpopular child!

‘B’ is just amazing though, she sensed I was off kilter( even when I tried to put on a front) her emotional awareness is unreal. I think she had a word with her Dad that evening because the next day he softened and was much more interactive and we ended up bonding on our views of how Brexit has played out of all things and it went from there!

Yes, I bit the bullet and asked him on Christmas Day when he apologised for not getting me a gift – I cheekily said the greatest gift would be to have his blessing. To my relief he said although he will always be protective of her, whoever makes ‘B’ happy makes him happy and he was impressed with how I had approached him and ‘B’ had always spoke highly of me. I think he was just sizing me up so to speak at first!

So the proposal plan is in motion and I already have my grandmother’s ring I always thought it would be ‘A’ who was going to receive it but I couldn’t be more grateful and happier it is ‘B’ .

I’m proposing on new year’s eve, 2 days!!! Are families meant to meet before an engagement?

My bachelor days are behind me, and I’m buzzing, this woman has challenged and changed me, I feel certain I want to spend the rest of my life with ‘B’ because of how profoundly happy she makes me. I feel a sense of pride and excitement to entwine our lives. Everything around me feels calm with her in my life, we connected from the moment we met but it’s only now I understand the depth of the connection, I’m ready to finally be a real man. This year has been a turbulent one. At the beginning of the year to where I am now is unbelievable.

I felt initial embarrassment of using a forum but this turned out to be one of the greatest decisions of my life.

@Shelbyville I can’t thank you enough for this thread. Led to so many stark realisations, thought provoking concepts which steered me in the right direction. I also gained a virtual family even if we are a dysfunctional bunch we share the same core energy. We want to grow and be better than we were yesterday. I will tell ‘B’ about you all one day; my homie @Kkasxo, my bro @Tim, my teachers and mates @Shelbyville and @Sammy. That’s how I know I’ve found the one because I feel comfortable and able to share everything with her, no facades.

@Shelbyville I appreciate your need for a pause, take stock and find a balance in your life with work etc. What spurred me to reassess my life and find contentment was witnessing my bros illness. It made me realise, life was really too short to waste with the wrong company (lads), wrong partner ( A, C and everything in between) etc. To gain back control requires effort to evolve and face those raw real hidden emotions.

If like me you suffer from self doubts which seep into your relationship decision making, then from my experience these were the questions I asked myself and wrote out, which ultimately led me back to ‘B’ and solidified my decision and feelings.

• What do I need in a meaningful relationship?

I knew I needed an emotionally supportive partner. Someone who would listen without judgement, compassionate, generous but actually encouraged me to be a better person. A best friend so someone I can be totally 100 with.

• Do our values and ideals align?

Discussing your morals, values, future frankly is so important if you want a serious relationship. There will always be a need to compromise but discussing it early you can avoid staying in a relationship longer than you should if there are major conflicts. B and I always had that instant connect where we could talk deeply about anything – we discussed so much the first time so when I was reflecting I knew with compromise (mainly physical aspect) we were otherwise pretty much aligned before the reconciliation.

• Is this person someone I truly trust to share anything with?

Real love is meant to grow. It can only grow if you have a deep emotional bond where you go beneath the surface and see their true self without feeling afraid in anyway – B saw all my faults, scars and I hadn’t even been fully vulnerable yet. I knew that was special.

• Is there some physical/sexual attraction there?

Before anyone jumps on me, I said SOME because I’ve grown up from my superficial views. However that being said it’s got to be there to some extent without it you will find your eyes and your heart wandering/fantasising when needs are not met – I’ve always thought ‘B’ was hot and initially it was more about the chase. It’s deepened into an indescribable force because of the emotional attraction we’ve built by spending time together without going for the home run. I have no doubt now about the physical intimacy and I’d describe her as beautiful now!

• Does your partner truly make you happy?

When someone makes you really happy, it has a noticeable positive effect on your life. When I think of ‘B’ it’s always positive connotations, she always uplifts me.

•  Am I ready to spend the whole of my life with this person until death does us apart?

Commitment should be taken seriously so many people just say go with the flow, stay in the moment and staying like that often leads to a dead end. If you love someone you’ll want to be loyal, respect and fully accept your partners imperfections. I accept B’s flaw – not many discovered yet! But I actually love her so much I know I’ll overlook them. I want to commit with intent that’s so important.

• Are you loving conditionally, is it a need for you, is your relationship equal?

‘B’ was a need for me the first time around. She saved me from drowning. I didn’t really offer her much but she clearly saw something in me. On reflection
I only really understood the meaning of love through ‘B’ after she walked away. I love her unconditionally now and I believe our partnership is on equal footing. I believe she offers me everything I’ve needed and more. I believe I offer her the same in return now.

The right person will feel like a light when you’re stumbling in the darkness, will make those racing thoughts and self doubts hush with their compassion and understanding. Have a positive energy and effect on you – from your mental space to all your relationships around you. Your productivity will increase and you’ll find yourself stepping up and wanting to do better not just for your partner but yourself too.  You’ll know it is real love because that person usually brings out the best in us. If you feel that then submit to it without fear and like myself you’ll find peace.

I hope that helps @Shelbyville to figure out if your doubts are real or not.
I do extensive reading this article helped me with my feelings, I had already lost ‘B’ and it was more about me accepting myself for who I am.

thoughtcatalog.com/jamie-varon/2014/09/why-you-cannot-truly-love-the-person-you-are-afraid-to-lose/