Thanks so much for the story
I want to, but I have no idea what hobbies to pickup or where to search for places where people hang. I walk for hours to fill the void, but I end up feeling even sadder.
I want to, but I have no idea what hobbies to pickup or where to search for places where people hang. I walk for hours to fill the void, but I end up feeling even sadder.
If you walk and walk and walk on your own, that's not going to help you meet people. I don't know where you are or what is around you, but is there a walking club? Is there a bridge club? is there a tennis club? Football?
It's almost axiomatic that if you want to met a SO then you need to meet people, so you need to find local clubs or societies that you can join.
Does your local library have a bulletin board with listings of clubs in the area?
Clearly it won't be easy because you haven't done it yet, but if you don't make the effort to find some way to interact with people, then you won't meet people, so you won't meet a (potential) SO.
Do you have a dog? You could do dog training. Do you do art? You could take art classes. Do you like to code? (Obviously) Go to coding meetups. Do you like writing/poetry? Go to poetry / open mic night. Do you like games? Check out gaming stores for social events.
Do NOT expect to get dates at these places: that's a bad strategy. But try to meet friends at these places. You meet partners by proxy, and by having fun with your friends.
As a straight male: it's a lot easier to meet guys than to meet girls. Use that strategy.
> I have no idea what hobbies to pickup or where to search for places where people hang.
I suggest that instead of finding a hobby that you think will help you meet people, you focus on what you love to do. If it's a solo activity (e.g. gaming, coding), go figure out how to do it socially (meetups, game nights, hackathons etc). Follow the stuff you love and use it to connect to people. It will allow you to be authentic and meet people who have the same interests as you and share your values.
Hang in there!
Don't have a hobby that is good to do with others? Find one. Don't be afraid to be bad at it at first, you'll get better at it overtime. This past year I picked up strength training and this spring I'm going to try rock climbing more. I was surprised by how much I enjoy strength training, going into it, I thought it would feel like a chore that would be difficult to keep doing.
You could also attend courses of sales persons, they teach people exactly to begin conversation and to got what you need (sure, most sales target sale, but you could target something other, for example to get contact or to begin conversation).
NB, if you go to a "how to date / build a relationship" workshop or seminar, pretty much everyone there is single and looking.