So, I figure it would be best to be fully honest on here, since I am a little embarrassed to say some of this to friends. So to start off, I am 26, a virgin, and have never even kissed a girl. Back in school I was extremely shy, so I was too scared to really talk to any girls I liked. As I got older, it kinda bugged me that I was so far behind the game, and I didn't want any girls I liked to find out and think I was weird, so that made me more nervous, and you can see the pattern. Now that I'm older, I realize how dumb I was and regret being so scared when I was younger. So my virginity, isn't really a HUGE deal, I mean yea I'd like to lose it but I figure as long as its been, might as well make it with someone I do like, not just lose it just to lose it. But relationship-wise, honestly I don't know where to start. Self esteem issues when I was younger (which contributed to the shyness in part) made it very hard to believe a girl would like me, due to weight issues and my lack of experience, etc. I've worked on it, and am a lot better with my self esteem, and can actually believe that a girl would have feelings for me. A friend proved that to me too, admitting that she did have feelings, which were mutual, but it couldnt work out. Seems like anytime there actually was a girl that liked me, there was something in the way. But now, if I see a girl looking my direction, it actually does pop in my mind that she might be interested, which never happened before. My problem now is, though I've managed to move up from looking away when I make eye contact with anyone to being able to smile and maybe say hi or something, I still have issues with showing my interest. I made a post about a new girl at work, and even though a good friend noticed I have a crush on her (though its hard to tell if she actually thinks that or is just messing with me) I still deny it and act like eh she's cool and cute, but its not like that. So I guess my question is, how do I grow the f up and actually be man enough to show interest in someone and actually find someone? I know that I'm going to hear a lot of get out there, or take a chance, and I know I need to, but maybe some suggestions or detailed ways of whats the best way to get past all this? And how bad will the lack of experience hurt me if/when a potential date finds out?