Love just doesn't exist
@MadMatt
..you're 26 is a loooooooooooooooooong way until 40 lol.
The issue here is that it has stopped being natural. You're so worried about it that people notice it and target you with it. You clearly feel insecure about it and people feel that. Is easier for a salty ex to be rude to you and say that because they KNOW will affect you instead of saying something else.
Love is not about physical apperance. Love happens not because of looks or money. It happens when you are confident. I met many people that at the eyes of society they were ugly but I found them drop dead beautiful because how confident they are. if you are confident you'll show that in your body language and people will feel attracted to it. Remember, we're humans, and part of us are still ike animals. We produce different chemicals deppending on the ocasion, and this happens if you're confident too. Is why so many people say is about "loving yourself" because is actually true. Who would you like? Someone incredibly insecure to the point you felt that and made you insecure aswell, or someone that made you feel confortable and warm inside?
Don't be harsh on yourself and work on that self esteem. Love exists but it won't fall from the sky because if it did wouldn't be worth it.
I've moved this thread to our new Being Single forum within the Relationship support community