Hey!

Sorry for the long answer time, I've been quite busy lately and haven't had the time to sit down and write this out.

First of all, the person in the profile picture is, in fact, me. However, it's a picture of me from 2 years ago when I was still 17.

The thumbnail is not subliminal. I've talked with (and am friends with) a transgender person and I haven't had any thoughts which she did before she switched.
The thumbnail did have a purpose though:

1. Draw attention to the post by featuring a face
2. Reflect the post's content, rather than the title
3. Feature my feelings at the time of writing the post, which was feeling like my emotions were trapped behind a mask which, even though I had shared the emotions with other people, I could not lose.

While I don't subscribe to any religion or faith, I do agree with some generalised statements made in the bible.

"It is not good for man to be alone"

I do agree that we are all social animals and part of what I am missing is a companion. While there are sources of oxytocin (Simon Sinek has brought up some everyday sources for it), nothing really beats a loving companion in life. And I believe that to be part of what I am missing.

"Be patient; there is an Eve for you."

I believe it to be so and I think that my chances will only go up from here as I am looking for a companion, not just a person to go out with.
It seems to me that the vast majority of people in my age group (at least near where I live) are not looking for companionship, but rather a person to go out with, which makes it a little bit more difficult to find a companion.

"A man should leave his mother and father; and, cleave to his wife."

I do agree with this and am in the "leaving" stage, which is one of the sources of my frustration. While the sources of frustration are not problems which will block me from succeeding in the "leaving" stage, they are obstacles and there seems to be a new one behind every corner. I just have to keep going.

Thanks for the conversation, it's definitely been interesting!