I tried to find someone for a while after XH and I split and decided I was trying too hard. I went the opposite direction and stopped trying at all. I'm not having any more success than I had before but at least it is a lot less stressful
Seriously, though, I think if you have a "fixer" personality or tend to be a people pleaser it can be too easy to ignore what you really need/want. This can be especially true if they've been "mistreated" by their last SO. Sometimes after you get to know them, you begin to see the other side of the story....on another note, after not having *anyone* new (okay, male, single and new....) show up at my church in the almost 3 years since I got out of the Navy and moved back....we've had *2* show up in the last month! One had 4 kids from 2 divorces and got moved back out of state again after only visiting for 2 Sundays, and the one who came yesterday is only 24, but at least new guys are showing up