Let’s talk about the fear factor in dating. It’s not just the fear of ending up on a date with someone whose profile picture must have been taken in a parallel universe. No, it’s deeper than that. It’s the fear of pouring your heart into a blender and having someone hit the ‘puree’ button. Because let’s face it, modern dating can feel like you’re in a reality TV show where the grand prize is an existential crisis. And not theirs.
And then there’s the culture of emptiness. You know what I’m talking about. It’s like everyone’s out there looking for their next high, but nobody’s willing to plant anything that grows. It’s a cycle of hook-ups and hang-ups, where the most profound thing you discover is that two people can share a physical space and still be worlds apart. It’s a world where “ghosting” is the norm, and the only spirits you’re likely to encounter are the ones you drink to forget the name of the person you just met.
But hey, let’s not get too down on the whole scene. After all, navigating the dating world is also about finding yourself, your boundaries, and what you’re really looking for in a partner — whether it’s a night of passion or a lifetime of deep, meaningful conversations (or both, because why limit yourself?).
In the end, it’s about resilience, baby. It’s about strapping on your emotional seatbelt and getting ready for the ride of your life. It’s about learning to laugh at the missteps, the awkward morning-afters, and yes, even the heartaches. Because if you can’t laugh at the absurdity of trying to find love in a world that can’t decide whether it wants to be a rom-com or a horror movie, then what can you laugh at?
What I’m craving, what I’ve tasted but only in fleeting moments, maybe with my ex, is that pure, unadulterated connection. That moment when you’re wrapped up in each other’s arms, the world falls away, and everything just clicks. He gets you, truly gets you. Your laughter intertwines, your love deepens, and he’s there, riding the wave of your particular brand of madness. He doesn’t blink at the chaos of your living space, chuckles when you go on a rib-eating marathon, and looks past the surface to genuinely, wholeheartedly love you.
But those times are gone. I’ve tried this year, and the years prior to date, and it just seems so fleeting. That there really is no reason or rhyme anymore to date these people.
Especially if it means emptiness.
