..influenced by peer pressure in all of them. ..I also feel very different from everybody else, and sometimes, inferior...
It seems like everybody is in a relationship or having sex. People talk about it all the time, TV is full of it, It kinda gets in my nerves.
I got peer pressured into the first two experiences in my life in my teens. Nothing more than kissing/dating one girl, but my friends thought I was falling behind or needed those experiences so it kind of got thrust on me. Neither of those experiences meant anything, made me incredibly nervous and more self-depreciating of myself because I felt like such a tool/failure/pawn/etc. Wasn't ready for it, or rather I never met the right girl who could help me out of my hole emotionally. I'm sure there was somewhere, but being reserved, introverted, rather spending time smoking and looking up information in the net, I didn't exactly go out looking for that girl.
The focus at that age was always about technique, or getting laid, showing yourself off to your friends and others like you've achieved the highest accolade a human can get. Never was it about emotional connection first. I know that messed me up. Our culture is all about sex sex sex. For the reserved and introverted sex/intimacy appears very daunting and scary, especially if you've been hurt already emotionally.
I lost my virginity at 25 when I went back to college. Been dating her for 2 years. She was raped when she was younger and we've been working through that together, and it has given me much more to think about when it comes to sex and intimacy, something I don't think I would have gotten from a regular (and first) sexual relationship.
Anyway, my advice: Don't feel inferior.. there's more people in the mid-twenties who are total virgins than you realize. It doesn't matter. Everyone has to start somewhere at sometime. If your first proper girl/guy turns you down because of that then forget them.. you will find someone who likes you for you and they won't care, just keep pushing forward. And forget all these people who talk about sex/relationships/affection in public.. they're no different from the people back in school.. there's nothing about the emotional detail. Also finally, if you're a guy.. go a couple of weeks without masturbating. It will motivate you and give you an energy that makes you appear very attractive to the ladies, they pick up on it. It also builds your self-confidence/esteem.. because if you're feeling inferior then no doubt you reinforce that through masturbation without realizing it.