First off....this is MY answer, and everyone is different....
I think that if one has to ask if they are ready, typically, they aren't....
After my Divorce, I spent a lot of time in my own head, dealing with my issues, my responsibility to the part I played in my failed marriage. Gave it plenty of headspace, and dealt with things accordingly.
What I also did, was to make a template, or checklist, of everything that I would like in my next relationship.
I got to a point where I was much like E here, I knew the right words, I was pretty sure that I was where I wanted to be, yet I wasn't sure because I was never really up against those things.
I got to a point where I started to become sure, and trusting myself again, that I wouldn't fall back into old patterns and behaviors.
The last hurdle was forgiving myself, that I wouldn't be that person again....
And I know that ^^^ is deep, probably deeper than it needs to be for this...
Eventually, I stopped asking the questions about it. Was I ready, wasn't I...
It didn't matter as long as I was true to myself.
What also happened, was that I just wanted to live my life, didn't matter what else happened. I wasn't looking for anyone, wasn't hoping for anyone, I just wanted to have fun, and enjoy living again.
Being healthy and whole was more important.
I gave up all of that control up to the Universe, and whatever happened, would happen.
And when I met K, I wasn't looking at all....
It just kinda happened, because I was ready to accept fully what I wanted and would need to be in a relationship again.
It actually went against what I wanted, which was to just be me again...
If someone would have asked, I would have possibly said...'I don't know'.
Yet it wouldn't have been a 'yes' or a 'no'. I really hadn't thought about it much for a long time.
I get that what I did, isn't for everyone....that's the path that I took ....
And that is what drives my advice...
If you have to ask, chances are, you aren't....
So I guess to summarize, since I seem to be rambling a bit....
Trust, Forgiveness, making sure I don't bring any old baggage with me...??
Healing fully so that one is ready for whatever comes their way ??
Knowing fully who I was, so that I could recognize Red Flags early on ? (not that I had to worry about those in hindsight). Yet I would have if they were to have existed.
I guess the best thing I did, was to make that template for what I would and wouldn't accept in a relationship...
I would hold that template up against anyone that would, or could possibly enter my life.
That ^ was actually harder than I thought it would be, thanks though...
