The Issue Of Trust

As I try to navigate my way through the shark filled dating waters of slightly before middle age, the issue of trust has become very important to me. I have been as honest as I possible as I can be about my past and it has cost me several potential relationships. I want the women I come in contact with to be able to trust me but because of my past "international play boy" life, it has made them doubt their ability to trust me. I would like to point out that I did all of this while I was single and I was under the impression that honesty was the best policy. I have also come in contact with women that had serious trust issues before they ever got to me and that destroyed any chance we had. I have a lot of female friends (with the emphasis on friends) and I would like to think I am as faithful as the family dog. I was always under the impression that trust is the cornerstone of any good relationship but trust also doesn't happen all at once. It has to be built up over a period of time but it doesn't mean I am going to mistrust anyone either. It just means that I will take them at their word until they prove me wrong. More importantly, I want them to feel like they can trust me as well and I also realize I have to build up a level of trust. Trust can be destroyed with one single act and it may never be gained back either.