Definitely not easy, and definitely have to trust your own instincts when it comes to the vibe/feel you get from people. Everything that's good TO you is not necessarily good FOR you. We were both over 40, and ready to have peace in a partner.

Met my now wife on a dating app, and we just had our 5 yr anniversary. She messaged me, we talked on the following few times before exchanging numbers, talked regularly for about a week before meeting in person, and within 1 month of her first message to me we were married.