Hi Reader,

Welcome to the first Love After 35 story of 2026!

I’m so excited to kick off this special edition series with the story of a woman who had been single for five years in her thirties. I get SO many messages from you all saying that you have been single for so long and worried it might never happen and I always share the same response "just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't". Lauren's story today is testament to that.
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But before we dive in. I wanted to announce that the Turning Community Doors are officially open for new members to join. It's the only coaching community designed especially for single women who are looking for love in their thirties. As you have signed up for this Love After 35 series- you get a special coupon with an exclusive discount (more details at the end of this email).

Now let's get started.

Here’s Lauren’s story in her own words:

Age and where she met her partner

34, on Hinge

How did you feel about being single before you met your partner?

I definitely struggled being single in my thirties. I was single for about five years before I met my husband and went through a lot of ups and downs with online dating and in-person events like speed dating. During that time, I invested in myself - doing group travel, concert cruises, and saying yes to anything outside my comfort zone. I spent a lot of time getting to know who I was and feeling comfortable with myself.

At the same time, it was hard watching friends get coupled, married, and start families. I had some really tough moments. I was genuinely happy for my friends, but I also felt my own sadness. I was a bridesmaid multiple times and stood by friends as they had children, all while longing to find a partner for myself. I couldn’t understand why it wasn’t happening, especially since I had a great job, a wonderful apartment, and a happy life - everything felt right except that one piece.

I dated extensively, both online and offline, and never imagined I’d meet someone online who I’d spend my life with, since all my previous relationships had started through mutual friends. Meeting him was completely outside my norm, but it turned out to be exactly what I needed.

How they met

I met my now-husband online, right before the holidays, just as I was about to take a break from dating. We had matched and planned to meet after I returned from a two-week trip, but we ended up going on our first date the night before I left. I’m so glad we did, because we spent that trip messaging each other, which helped our connection grow. When I got back, we went on our second date, and there were sparks from the start - we’ve been inseparable ever since.

One thing I did differently when I met my husband was that I was very honest from the start about what it was that I was looking for. And here’s what I learned: the right person won’t run away.

What felt hard about love before meeting him?

What felt hard was finding people who wanted something long-term and shared my values. With online dating, it often felt like people were disposable, and it was difficult to find someone willing to put in the same effort I was. There were a lot of people playing games, and across all age ranges I dated, few were genuinely looking for a long-term relationship or willing to commit to trying.

I had been in love before and had a few long-term relationships, so being single for so long felt hard and unusual. I was also a bit nervous about entering another relationship in my mid-thirties, because it carried more weight - there was more long-term consideration and pressure at this age.

I stayed hopeful by continuously putting myself out there, believing I was worth it, and reminding myself that the alternative - staying at home and feeling sorry for myself - wasn’t an option. I held onto the hope that something better was out there for me.

What advice would you give someone who is looking for love in their thirties and thinks it is too late?

My advice is to make a list of what you’re looking for - and then be open to throwing it out the window. With the right person, a checklist doesn’t matter. My husband didn’t check every box, but he hit the most important ones, and I’m so glad I gave him a chance. The biggest takeaway for me was that he didn’t play games - I always knew where we stood, and he planned the next date at the end of each one, so there was no anxiety or second-guessing. People like that are out there - don’t settle for someone who takes 35 days to text back!

There’s no age limit on finding true love or getting married. Getting to know yourself first and pursuing things you enjoy, like travel or new experiences, is a great way to meet people and trust that love will come when it’s meant to. I know everyone says it, but I really mean it - because I lived it!

Lauren’s journey is such a reminder that being honest about what you want doesn’t push love away - it actually helps you find the right person faster, and to weed out all of the men that aren't serious about having a relationship.

If Lauren’s story resonates with you and you’re ready to do the inner work while navigating your single chapter, I’d love to invite you to join the Turning Community.

Turning is a sacred online space for women in their thirties navigating single life whilst doing the inner glow up to attract the right partner on their own timeline. Inside, we support each other, work on ourselves, and learn how to date with confidence and clarity - just like Lauren did.

Turning is the space to be in when you want to try again. When you're feeling like you're never going to meet your person, but you also know that you have the power to turn it around. There are over 100 women already inside doing this work- and you can join them now (you get immediate access once you sign up).

As you signed up to the Love After 35 special series you get a $50 discount when you sign up for the Quarterly option- which gives you the option to join for as little as $66 a month for the first three months! (the usual price is $99). Use code LOVEAFTER35 at the check-out page.

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​And join us tomorrow for Tina's amazing story of asking for love in a moment of frustration...and actually receiving it.

P.s. A HUGE thank you to all of the women who submitted their stories for the Love After 35 email series- they all did this voluntarily with one aim: to give women in their thirties more hope of finding love.

With Love, ​
Emma x

Turning 30 Coach​
​www.turning30coach.com ​

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