I haven't dated or tried to date anyone for about 7 years now. I do not regret this.
What was your reasoning for starting that lifestyle?
It's a mixed answer. It probably started off as a concrete choice to abstain from relationships back when I was about 17. None of the three or four relationships I had been in at that point had been positive experiences. This was as much, if not more, down to my own foibles and failings as any of my partner's. And I know that teenage relationships aren't suppose to be perfect or anything, but at the time that's how I felt. This was around the time that I was starting to increasingly get into composition. I also became increasingly introverted. As such, I spent increasing time alone. I gradually became comfortable and content in being alone and myself as person. Eventually, it became less of a conscious, practised choice to avoid dating/relationships. That's an important distinction to make here. I don't categorically reject or abstain from the idea of relationships (at least, not anymore). That's not something I define myself by. Instead, I've taken on the attitude of doing what I enjoy the most. If I happen to find someone or fall into something whilst I'm doing those things, then that's cool. But if not, who cares? I'm perfectly happy doing what I'm doing.