Pull up a chair for some wrong guy stories. When you’re dating in midlife, mismatches feel like a big setback. But take heart – the wrong guy can lead to the right one if you do a little soul-searching.

Dating the wrong people was like a rite of passage in your twenties and thirties. But by the time you get to the middle of life, these mismatches hit a bit harder. It takes a little longer to get yourself back on track. Give yourself the space to examine the wrong connections, because they teach you some important things about what you DO want and what you ARE looking for. Bad dates can lead you in the right direction.

Nancy shares a story of her solo trip to Italy, freshly single after her divorce in her 30s, à la Eat Pray Love. Spoiler alert: it ends with heartbreak via fax machine. Nancy tells other juicy stories of encounters with the “wrong” men and the valuable lessons she learned from each one.

Nancy speaks from experience when she says don’t get too caught up in romantic fantasies, because they steal your focus from the present. Optimism is important, but delusion is dangerous. A productive mindset and responsible dating practices are key.

Remember, your dating past doesn’t dictate your future. Every dating story serves a purpose. So embrace them, seek out the silver linings, and above all, be kind to yourself. After all, your journey is unfolding in its own unique way. You are writing your story the way it's meant to be told.

[14:19] Your dating past does not dictate your dating future.