Maybe you need some more 'ego strokin'? Like, you just want to prove to yourself, you still 'got it' that's why you enjoy flirting. I think to a modest extent, it's ok, but excessively is a sign of something bigger that you're ignoring.

Then again, you may be too young at 23 to get married...maybe. I dunno, there are people who get married as young or younger, so I can't say if you're just too young or if your subconscious is telling you that you're not ready yet.

Do some soul searching, maybe you'll find out something.

I'm not sure why you want to flirt with other guys. I got married this year at 22, and have been with my now husband for the past five years, and have not really been tempted to flirt with anyone else during that time, but then.. I'm very picky about guys. So let's think...Were you really into flirting before you met your current boyfriend? Maybe it's like an emotional high for you? Or is there something you're hoping to accomplish from flirting with other men? Maybe you like to try on different hats/guys to see what life would be like with them? No harm in that, but I would take some time to really think what your motives are and decide if this is a more serious issue. Hope this helps

There's nothing wrong with you. Age is a number, but I guess we're speaking in US ~ Cultural terms here. Anyway, age aside, Hope is right, you probably just need more ego stroking, especially from your bf, maybe he got too comfy, and stopped flirting. Or maybe you want to know that you can still get guys to break their next looking at you while you walk down the street. Reevaluate your point in life and what you want, many go through this. Once you especially get comfortable with that other person, you probably won't care about about flirting (although we all flirt to an extent without even noticing).

dont be so hard on ureself!! i'm the same, ive been with my boyfriend for nearly two years and am completely happy, totally into him... however who doesn';t enjoy a little flirting now and again? its not like ure kissing or sleeping with other guys..i hope! anyway, its totally healthy and who doesnt love the little ego boost of knowing other guys still find you attractive but can't have you?.. i know i do.

There is nothing wrong with a little flirting, I think that everyone does it! As long as you don't do it with the intent to cheat, what's the harm in it?

nothing wrong with flirting. it's following through that's the problem.

everyone misses being single.. until they are and then you realize, you just miss the freedom to do as you please with whomever. Once it happens, you will wish you didnt.

lol I was in the same situation a year ago ... I was with a wonderful man for 2 years and 9 months and then I broke up with him ... because I missed being single ...
I always thought that I wanted to experience everything in life and that I didn't want to settle down so quick ...
but I have to say that you guys love each other then please dont' make the same mistake ... there are no good guys out there, even though it might seem like there are right now ...
flirting with other guys is okay as long as your boyfriend is a confident guy and knows you will always come back home to him ...
so yeah please don't make the same mistake I made, and get out of a perfectly good relationship because you miss being single ... being single sucks ... lol

You're not ready to settle down - it's that simple.

I don't agree that "everyone misses being single." When you're in the right relationship, it makes you happy, not regretful.

I tend to agree with Luisa. I felt restless with a guy at that age and always loved being out, flirting, even though I never acted on it.

With my current boyfriend, I just never have that impulse.

a humans number one desire is to feel wanted/liked. Its human. Although, I'm not that way, the average person is. Married people flirt! It happens. I've been studying about human wants/needs this month... its natural (although the number 1 reason people are filing for divorce is because they don't feel 'appreciated', which is similar to being accepted/wanted.)

I dont think it is as simple as "you're not ready" because I know how you feel. I am in a very similar situation only I am 20. Sometimes it scares me to think i'll never be with anyone new. But some advice from my dad that helped me might help you. He married my mom at 20 and they've been happily married for 37 years. he says "was I looking to get married and settle down at 20? No. But i found the woman who was right for me to marry and raise a family and that is the choice that I made." very simple but makes sense. If the man you are with right now is everything you want in a significant other, husband and maybe even father to your children then those are the choices you have to make. is it worth not being together so you can flirt and maybe have some meaningless hookups? Probably not...that lifestyle will get old fast. But, if there is a bigger issue than this then maybe you aren't ready and he is not the one.

I think it's ok to flirt a little. I don't do it anymore, but I'm 31 and have been in a great relationship for 3 years, but I used to be a flirt. I never crossed the line, it was just about the ego boost. I still get hit on regularly, and enjoy it, but I don't respond or initiate anymore. I think it passes with age, and I wouldn't worry about it as long as you don't have the desire to act on it. Feeling pretty when other men want you is perfectly normal - just don't go fish for it too often!

I agree with Krae! I got married at 21 and I've been happy ever since! I dont think it has to with age but the type of person you are. I went out a lot when I was young whiich (for me) is the main reason I dont miss the single life!
Everyone loves to feel loved (we're human). I'm wondering more about your boyfried though...what kind of attention is he giving you?

It means that you're human:) Just because we find the love of our lives doesn't mean that you are no longer attracted to the opposite sex (or even can appreciate the beauty of the same sex!). It's human nature and the interactions and relationships we carry on with each other through the daily events of our lives. It's when people don't realize this and act on those natural tendencies because they feel it means that something is missing from their relationship with their partners is when it leads to problems. But don't expect not to still find other attractive or love the attention you get from others, it's perfectly natural and certainly not indicative of any shortfalls in your current relationship!

I dont think so. I think some people just like a little extra attention than other people.

I dont think its a bad thing or a deal breaker, as long as the other person in the relationship doesnt take it personally and is understanding etc. I have seen this in guys and girls.

And hey yeah maybe it will subside as you age! But then again sometimes you do see little old men still tryin to flirt with everyone they come across regardless of age!

I'm 24 and feel the EXACT same way. It's completely normal and harmless, doesn't mean I'm immature or need a lot of attention or I'm not ready to settle down...just means I'm a human with eyes and a libido! It's more than normal, and if he loves you and you love him and you're happy, as long as you're not doing more than harmless flirting, you shouldn't stress yourself out over it

Well said, Berlin!! My point exactly

It's normal to want to know other men still find you attractive. I'm married and 21, and I do get a little satisfaction knowing a boy thinks I'm cute or being 'checked out.' I'm not sure what all these other people mean by saying flirting is ok. Maybe I have a different definition of what flirting is, but I don't think flirting with other men is at all appropriate when your with someone else. Being friendly and flirting are two different things and I would never flirt with other guys, that would just be wierd!

Although, if your feeling trapped in this relationship, it doesn't sound like your ready for marriage. But like lemamike said, that lifestyle of sleeping around gets old fast. Just make sure you don't throw away something great, something that could turn out to be really difficult to replace.

Love for me at 23 was way too young. I didn't feel anything for anyone and enjoyed being single.

Now I'm 25 and in love, go figure...things change really fast.

Oh, and saying you would not and will not cheat doesn't mean you won't. Just don't set yourself for it. Trust me sh*t happens, especially when people put themselves in bad situations (hotel room alone with another guy, you get caught up in the animal instincts next thing you know, you're trying to make babies).

^ P.S. having those animal instinct minor lust/attention seeking feelings doesn't mean that your relationship is wrong, you'll always get that at some point. We were made to screw each other and make babies till the planet gets overpopulated .

Whenever I longed for attention from other guys, it's because I wasn't getting it in my current relationship. Do you two flirt? Does he compliment you? Do you compliment him? If things are getting dull, then it's no wonder you want to look elsewhere. But consider why you're feeling this way - I don't think your age has anything to do with it!

23 is entirely too young to get married. At 23 you still aren't who you're going to be. If you get married now, it's going to be hard to tell if in 5 years you will still be that same person or if your ideals and dreams have changed. In my opinion it's better to wait until around 30 to get married. That seems to be the point at which most people, men and women alike, are settled into who they are.

There are definite exceptions to this of course, but I wouldn't say that you are one of them. I agree with the posters that said there's nothing wrong with innocent flirting, but your post almost sounds like YOU are unsure of your readiness. That's a big red flag right there. However, just because you're engaged doesn't mean that you can't end the engagement. Make it a LONG engagement. I'm not saying that you AREN'T right for each other, who knows that really? What I'm saying is that it's too early for you to know for sure.

And when I said end the engagement, I don't mean today. I mean if 5 years down the road you're still engaged but you feel like it's not right, you can end an engagement. Marriage is forever.

There are some women that are in there 60s and still love to flirt! The general rule of thumb is don't do anything you wouldn't want your partner to know about. If it's just harmless flirting and he would be OK with it then have a little fun!! There isn't any rule that says you have to stop flirting when you get married. I personally hate flirting and it makes me uncomfortable, same with my hubby.. and we are both very jealous so obviously this wouldn't work for us. However, there are many couples out there that both still like a little ego boost here and there and think it spices up their relationship! You may find that the desire to flirt does go down after you are with him, but do not expect that it will. You need to talk to your man and see where he stands on this.

Oh and I totally disagree with saying that 23 is too young to get married. People are different and just because you were a certain way at age 23 doesn't mean that holds true for the rest of the population. Thanks!

clarabelle thanks for telling me I dont know who I am yet..I was confused!!

Mandeelei you said it before I got to it! Everyone is different at certain ages...

Clarabelle, its like that when you date some one in highschool and you go off to college... thats when people change. But when you're (considered) an adult, 20plus, and "in love" you're either almost finished with college or beginning your career, so its highly doubtful that you will go through a huge change... i mean for people in general, maybe it was different with you or someone you knew...

I agree with Clarabelle from a statistical standard point, young marriages are more likely to end in divorce. Also for me personally I got married at 22 and divorced at 27 and not because I changed (well I did a bit, but not that much) its because he did. Those years are pretty critical for a guy in the whole maturing process.

But every situation is different and I don't regret getting married, I was in love and happy for a few years. The same marriage/divorce thing could happen to me again at 30, 40, or even 70.

I disagree le romantique, as someone that is 28 my guy friends where completely different at 23 and then they are now!! Like seriously, totally different human beings.

I agree that the divorce rate is higher for younger couples but it really depends on who you are.
My hubby and I are real happy with two kids. I think if we are changing we're getting more mature (at least I know I am).

People change period. My parents got married early, they're still together. It's different for everyone. It depends on the two people in the relationship no one else. Frankly the fact that everyone keeps going around saying this and that about how you're too young, or can't handle it, or throwing statistics around is probably one factor that things do fail. There's just this hysteria going around with people paying attention to statistics and caving into the "inevitable" instead of working through things. Frankly, things don't work out because people lack the necessary skills and tools to handle themselves and get a handle on all their relationships in life. People just let things happen rather than make things happen.

clarabelle, it's not right to say nobody should get married until they're 30. That was the right choice for you, everyone is so different and I think age doesn't really play too much into it. I think it all depends on finding the RIGHT person.

All kinds of marriages end in divorce and I actually read that the age at which you get married doesn't make a difference.

Like I know a few in their 30's who aren't ready to be married...

Flirting's like breathing for me, so I say don't worry about it.

There's nothing wrong with a little flirting here and there. It's good for the ego

Yeah, I don't think it's age. I didn't even date until I was 16 and I'm 29 and am barely ready to get married, having finally found the right person (plus I'm still in grad school). So it depends on luck, maturity, a whole host of factors. My parents married when they were 20 and they've been married for 34 years. Obviously statistics are bad for young marriages these days, but I believe that as long as two people enter into it with a lot of self-education and awareness, you can work it out.

Bad partnership = Bad marriage. If you can't work well together even through bad times, it won't work out.

clarabelle - It's possible for people to change after they hit 30. There's no rule that says "I'm going to be the same person I am now for the rest of my life" as soon as you hit 30.

If you have any other plans than getting married and starting a family then 23 is too young - just wait till 25 - trust me that year changes things....But really everyone likes flirting - as long as you don't get mad that you can't act on it - its fine for your relationship. Flirting and enjoying it is always normal... Good luck with everything - remember be honest with your fiance - if he is the right one he won't want to do anything before you are completely ready