A woman is ditching luxury dates and going 'boy sober' - cutting out men and relationships from her life after 16 years of dating.
Carly Galluzzo, 28, called time on her dating life after discovering that her dating patterns were becoming "toxic."
Last year she went on four dates a month - going on luxury New York City dinner dates and even a private jet trip to the Bahamas on a third date.
But Carly realised that her need for a boyfriend "wasn't a need for the person but out of fear".
She eventually made a decision to go 'boy sober' - cutting out dating and relationships from her life completely.
And Carly says she has no plans to return to her love life, and even says she would turn down her dream man at the moment.
Carly, a law student from Long Island, New York, said: "I think I was dating because all of my friends have been pairing up for so long and that was driving me to find a partner, but I don't think that was a good motivation.
"I felt that I had to keep dating.
"It didn't matter whether the men were good or not. At the end of the day my outlook on it was also not good.
"It was just something that I feared that if I didn't pursue something straight away I'd miss out on something.
"But it finally clicked in January. I haven't really been single and happy ever.
"I've been dating my whole life and seriously dating since I was 16. I'd either become anxiously attached or avoidantly attached.
"I found myself planning weddings after knowing someone for a week.
"I was attaching these feelings and personalities but it wasn't fair on either one of us."
Since going 'boy sober' at the beginning of this year, Carly says she's "never felt happier."
She said: "I've never been happier than now.
"The weight that has been lifted feels like it was 1,000lbs.
"I feel content and I feel like I've never been younger.
"The only conversations I'd have with college girlfriends was about boyfriends and finding a partner.
"Getting ready for dates also takes so long and my confidence was always shot.
"Also dating in NYC, the guys were dating models so I'd question how I could make myself more attractive."
Carly admitted she was using dating as a form of validation and her journey with materialism also played a part in who she chose to date.
She said: "My journey with materialism has also been involved in this journey of being boy sober.
"The quickest way to money is dating a wealthy guy which of course can be amazing but I know what's important now, real happiness and not just these monetary things.
"My ex-boyfriend was very wealthy and took me to a lot of great places and that validation from my peers felt good.
"But I can say now I've lived that life crying my eyes out on a yacht in the South of France.
"I was so miserable and I was willing to give up my happiness for that."
But not everyone understands Carly's decision, with some of her colleagues saying she should be aware of her biological clock.
She said: "I feel like not everyone understands it.
"People say I'm 28 and they think more of the biological clock of it all.
"But the only person I really care about is my mum and her opinion and she was so on board with me.
"I'm not putting it out for the future, but for today I don't want a partner and I don't want to think about it."
And whilst she's allowing herself to let genuine connections happen, she feels that she looks at life differently now.
Carly added: "I genuinely think I look at life differently.
"I don't care what I look like if I see some eligible man in the grocery store.
"I'm not dating now. I'm not going out and expecting to be approached by a guy.
"I've broken up with 'situationships' and people that ask me out now, I say no.
"I feel like I have a lot of power in that.
"My dream man if he comes up to me right now, I truly think I'd have to think about it and it's just crazy to think like that.
"What I'm feeling right now, I could do this forever and be happy.
"I know I can take care of myself financially.
"I can see myself in 10 years from now still being this happy but I can also see myself in a regular relationship."
Carly Galluzzo, 28, called time on her dating life after discovering that her dating patterns were becoming "toxic."
Last year she went on four dates a month - going on luxury New York City dinner dates and even a private jet trip to the Bahamas on a third date.
But Carly realised that her need for a boyfriend "wasn't a need for the person but out of fear".
She eventually made a decision to go 'boy sober' - cutting out dating and relationships from her life completely.
And Carly says she has no plans to return to her love life, and even says she would turn down her dream man at the moment.
Carly, a law student from Long Island, New York, said: "I think I was dating because all of my friends have been pairing up for so long and that was driving me to find a partner, but I don't think that was a good motivation.
"I felt that I had to keep dating.
"It didn't matter whether the men were good or not. At the end of the day my outlook on it was also not good.
"It was just something that I feared that if I didn't pursue something straight away I'd miss out on something.
"But it finally clicked in January. I haven't really been single and happy ever.
"I've been dating my whole life and seriously dating since I was 16. I'd either become anxiously attached or avoidantly attached.
"I found myself planning weddings after knowing someone for a week.
"I was attaching these feelings and personalities but it wasn't fair on either one of us."
Since going 'boy sober' at the beginning of this year, Carly says she's "never felt happier."
She said: "I've never been happier than now.
"The weight that has been lifted feels like it was 1,000lbs.
"I feel content and I feel like I've never been younger.
"The only conversations I'd have with college girlfriends was about boyfriends and finding a partner.
"Getting ready for dates also takes so long and my confidence was always shot.
"Also dating in NYC, the guys were dating models so I'd question how I could make myself more attractive."
Carly admitted she was using dating as a form of validation and her journey with materialism also played a part in who she chose to date.
She said: "My journey with materialism has also been involved in this journey of being boy sober.
"The quickest way to money is dating a wealthy guy which of course can be amazing but I know what's important now, real happiness and not just these monetary things.
"My ex-boyfriend was very wealthy and took me to a lot of great places and that validation from my peers felt good.
"But I can say now I've lived that life crying my eyes out on a yacht in the South of France.
"I was so miserable and I was willing to give up my happiness for that."
But not everyone understands Carly's decision, with some of her colleagues saying she should be aware of her biological clock.
She said: "I feel like not everyone understands it.
"People say I'm 28 and they think more of the biological clock of it all.
"But the only person I really care about is my mum and her opinion and she was so on board with me.
"I'm not putting it out for the future, but for today I don't want a partner and I don't want to think about it."
And whilst she's allowing herself to let genuine connections happen, she feels that she looks at life differently now.
Carly added: "I genuinely think I look at life differently.
"I don't care what I look like if I see some eligible man in the grocery store.
"I'm not dating now. I'm not going out and expecting to be approached by a guy.
"I've broken up with 'situationships' and people that ask me out now, I say no.
"I feel like I have a lot of power in that.
"My dream man if he comes up to me right now, I truly think I'd have to think about it and it's just crazy to think like that.
"What I'm feeling right now, I could do this forever and be happy.
"I know I can take care of myself financially.
"I can see myself in 10 years from now still being this happy but I can also see myself in a regular relationship."
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