I have written about this online relationship that has been going on for me, and there is much going on about that for me today…..I have fears about being “catfished”, having my vulnerability used to get something from me, having someone portray themselves as something other than what they are, fear of being a foolish older woman. I know that I am not unique with these fears, and with this experience.
Lately this man has been talking about his business, and the financial parts of it…..and at one point mentioned that he didn’t have enough money for a particular thing. He wanted to talk with me …and I immediately got suspicious about him perhaps wanting money from me…..so I reacted and wrote back with my concerns and that I was not going to give any money….that I wondered about scamming, etc..
His reaction to this was heartbreak and disappointment that I would think this of him. Is this real? Is he real? I have never met him – he is currently out of the country for business. He has sent some photos, which seem real. He seems real, and yet – there is fear and suspicion and confusion in me….
So here I sit, feeling confused, doubting myself yet again, yet unable to shake the fear and suspicions of anything online…..I wonder how many of us have experienced this…I wonder about our vulnerability and loneliness and fears and sadness and all the feelings that are part of being alive, mixed with the particular feelings of being an older woman alone…..His words online were sweet, loving seductive….have I been a fool? Or have I cast aside something that could have been real and wonderful? I am humbled to see how much I still want to be loved, seen, wanted, appreciated, pursued, desired…..all of it…all of it very humbling….
I have no answers at this point to any of this. Communication has stopped between this man and I at this point, and I am left with so many different feelings inside me. What I now struggle with is staying true to all of my feelings, staying with myself and not beginning to tear myself down for writing what I did, trying to be gentle with myself for being oh so very human and vulnerable….and for not having realized that perhaps I was more lonely than I cared to admit or acknowledge.
I now need to tap into my faith and belief in surrender to the Universe….to be guided and directed and taken care of…and to not apologize for having my feelings…..and to stay true to myself and not beat myself up. This is hard. I don’t much like the taste of this possible catfish….it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and a sour feeling in my gut…..and pain in my heart.
Can anyone else out there relate to this? You are not alone. It is understandable. And we can love ourselves through this….slowly…..
To be continued….
I'm Not Dead Yet! 
You know there is a TV series called Catfish, that is a spinoff from the original movie of the same name? Every week it shows a person who was taken advantage of by someone who pretended to be someone they weren’t. It’s not always about money yet always about losing something even worse — trust in people 😦 He very well could have skedaddled when you called him out on the truth. When I hear, “currently out of the country” which definitely costs money to do, yet needs money for his business that sets off red flags for me. With all of the technology out there to provide documentation for who a person is or isn’t, it is easier than ever to prove you are who you are. Sadly that technology in the hands of the savvy can also make it possible to catfish others.
I’m sorry this person took advantage of your feelings and your trusting nature. I’m also happy your instincts helped you see maybe he wasn’t who he said he was.
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Thank you so much. It’s very humbling.
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I’m so sorry it is an experience you had to see up close. Some of these charlatans have had years of practice.
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I did not realize that you are an older woman like myself. I can understand better what you were going through. You were right to trust your gut instincts though. These men from “overseas” have done this kind of catfishing many times and snagged other women our age by making the single woman feel special, which is something that is not always easy to find, it seems. Especially with women living longer than men. Unfortunately men aren’t the only ones who catfish. You did good! May I share these two blog posts after the holidays? I think there are many like you who get “caught” in their snares. Be glad you are out of the situation and go on with your life. Hugs!
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Thank you…. Please feel free to share! Hugs back to you!
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Thank you. I’ll share the word!!
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