[Mallika]

Hello there,

Thanks for reaching out. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Nothing at all. I'm 23 and I've never been in a relationship, let alone have sex. Most of my friends have been there done that. While I have experienced FOMO (fear of missing out) in the past, I've come to realise that each person has their own journey to live. We all don't operate at on the same timeline. Some people find love, get married, have kids by age 21. On the other hand, others remain virgins right into their thirties. There is no right timeline one should live through; it's simply not possible for all humans to have similar trajectories or experiences.

Unfortunately, mainstream media and pop culture stigmatise virgins a lot, making us feel like we're worthless. That couldn't be further from the truth. On the other hand, making sex mainstream and casual is dangerous. Sex should be a special thing, but in today's time and age, it has been trivialised and normalised so much that its charm is no longer appreciated by young folk. I see my friends sleeping around every week with any Tom, Dick and Harry, and while I am not a saint to judge them negatively, I can't help but think that they will never experience what it is like to have sex with someone they truly love.

My suggestion is that you cherish your life and its experiences for what they are. It's okay not to have the same experiences as your friends. It's okay to still remain a virgin or be single while everyone is hooking up. You can be you, you can be unique, and that's absolutely fine.

Your time will come in the future, so you can wait for it till it happens. Till then, don't forget to cherish the present