My husband thinks he married up (and told me so again on our anniversary yesterday), but I think I did, too, so we’re even.
Going back to this thread made me remember a HS classmate’s wedding I attended about ten years after graduation. The smart athlete I’d had the biggest crush on was there and, after a few cocktails, I mentioned it. He was stunned and said, “YOU would have dated ME?” We both thought the other was unattainable. There was an intimidation factor on both ends. We had MC’d the senior variety show together, and I felt there was definitely some chemistry during the show’s run and hoped he would have asked me out. He said if he had any idea I would have said yes, he would have asked in a heartbeat, but he thought I was “too pretty and too smart.” This guy had zero trouble getting dates. I couldn’t believe that he suffered any such insecurities, but he did, and he viewed me in a way I didn’t view myself. These feelings aren’t unique to the shy and socially awkward. The potential for rejection is a powerful inhibitor for most people.
To any young men/women in the dating pool who are reading this, I say muster up your courage and take that risk. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. (Right, son?)