Being single and dating in 2016 is definitely not for the faint of heart. And with the amount of time I’ve put into my dating life, things should have worked out differently. Seriously, if finding love was actually work, I would be the CEO — here’s why:
- I’ve tried every dating app out there. Yup, even Coffee Meets Bagel, which lasted about one hour because they kept matching me with guys who live in Michigan when I’m in Toronto. The hours I’ve spent swiping, messaging, being ignored, fielding creepy comments and talking to someone only to learn they have zero intention of meeting IRL would have made me a ton of money by now if dating was a job.
- I’ve gone on dates with bad feelings. I definitely believe in listening to your gut, but I’ve gone against it sometimes for the sake of a first date. What can I say? There’s always hope that this one will work out better than the last (or the last five). I’ve learned that if you’re unsure about someone, it’s not always worth meeting them. Sometimes a night with Netflix is much better than another crappy date.
- I’ve ghosted and I’m not ashamed. The amount of time I’ve spent wondering how to react when a guy who is clearly not going to be my one and only sends me a post-date text message asking to see me again definitely adds up. In the end, I usually ghost, and while that may not always be the best option, usually the guys are such jerks that they’re pretty much asking for it.
- I’m the girl in my friend group with the crappy dating life. If I count the number of times a friend has said to me, “Whoa, you go on the worst dates,” I would be a millionaire. Of course they go on awful dates too, but my own stories are often so ridiculous and borderline hilarious that they stand out.
- I’ve seen it all. Guys who told me they were going on a two-week vacation only to ignore me forever. Guys who kept texting without ever asking me on another date. Guys who acted super into me then disappeared when things got real. I’ve pretty much seen it all, and while I stay to stay positive, the amount of time I’ve wasted really adds up.
- I’ve tried to maximize my time. When I want to be super productive in my work life, I figure out what times of day I work best, how to work in bulk so I get more done, and how not to feel like I’m totally burnt-out. I’ve done the same with my dating life. I’ve used a dating app only once a week, I’ve used it for an hour every day, I’ve pretty much tried every time-saving strategy out there. Haven’t gotten anything in return yet, but hopefully that will change.
- I’m inspired and determined. When I’ve had career failures, I haven’t shrugged and stopped trying, so that’s not going to happen now. Even though I’m still living the solo life, I won’t stop putting in the time and hoping for that promotion (aka a boyfriend) in the near future.
