I can only tell you about my experiences in my early 20's and hope that it helps you. But I think I have good experiences to share, and everyone needs advice or examples once in a while.
I was a serial dater when I was in HS and starting college. I've had a handful of close relationships. But once I turned 21, I decided to be single for a while. And I think that was the best decision I ever made. I decided that everyone I met (I'm very social too) only had one opportunity with me, and that was to be my friend. It made life so much easier to just extend a hand of friendship to people and not have to worry about the complications of a serious relationship. In that year and a half that I was single, I learned a lot about being a true friend, and I also learned that I have to be my own best friend first. If I need advice, I can get it from myself. It is nice to have people around as sounding boards, but I had to realize that I didn't NEED my friends, but WANTED to have them. And it made great improvements on my friendships and my relationship with myself. I learned to be stronger and know that I can take care of myself. I also think that you can't truly 100% love someone until you first know how to love yourself. You can't share something that you don't completely understand. So THEN, after I had become really comfortable with myself and my life, and had decided NEVER to go back to dating again,
I met the BF. I NEVER believed in love at first sight, I thought Romeo and Juliet were horny teens that made stupid mistakes, but when I saw him, it all changed. He just fell in my lap when I wasn't looking for it. So, now that I've shared my wisdom about being single, let me tell you how I feel about this relationship. I love my BF, we lived together for 2 years in KS before we moved to TX together. But when we first started dating, I dumped him because I didn't know if I was ready for a relationship yet. And then a month goes by and I realize that I made a HUGE mistake, and I crawled back to him, told him I loved him, and wanted to get back together. Well, he had started dating this other girl during our time apart, and he actually dated both of us for 2 months at the same time once I had come back to him. I was willing to do anything and put up with a bunch of crap from him to get him back. But I put up with a BUNCH of crap, and he really hurt me. And even to this day I am bitter about what happened when we got back together. I knew he was worth fighting for, and I am very glad I stuck it out, but I just want you to know that when the relationship starts off on a bad foot, you won't forget about it. My BF is so great, we are a great couple, but I still think about how he hurt me every once in a while, and I am just waiting for the day for that hurt to go away.
Really, I don't want to give you much advice, but to just share with you what I've been through. I learned a lot from my big sister's mistakes and experiences in life, and I think learning about other people's relationships helps give light to the one you are in. Hope this helps you, and TXgurl as well. I really feel for you ladies because the heart is a fragile thing, and I know what it feels like to hurt. HUGS!