We’re Not Here for This, Tinder
No longer considered passé, online dating has become a right of passage for those of us who are single, consenting adults who may or may not have the time to go out and meet people organically. Apps like Tinder, Bumble, and OK Cupid have taken away the sometimes-awkward first encounter, and replaced it with the chance to get to know a complete stranger from the comfort of your couch while sipping on your drink of choice. Tinder seems to be the most popular these days, though having a reputation for being the “hookup app”. We’ve all heard the horror stories of first dates gone completely wrong, but sometimes they seem to go really well and a second date is set; this is where things can sometimes get cloudy.
We have these “rules of dating” engraved in us by friends, family, and popular culture that tend to impact how we behave; whether we call the next day, send a text, ignore them on purpose, start chatting up someone else just in case things don’t work out, or the increasingly popular “ghosting”. In all reality, there shouldn’t be any rules! Stop feeling pressured by the countless engagement announcements and wedding photos that plague your social media feeds every single day, and just live. Go out with your friends, stay in and watch Netflix all night, try a new hobby or workout regimen, or start crafting! We miss out on a lot of life by worrying about our relationship status, or whether or not our Tinder profile is going to attract the right person.
So, let’s all sit back, relax, and embrace the fact that we are awesome, unique individuals. Our lives are precious, and we should treat them as such. Go on that vacation with your friends, take a “staycation”, buy the shoes, go to the movies alone, try a new bar, go to a concert, wander around your city, adventure; take the time to really nurture your relationship with yourself. You never know who you’re going to meet along the way!
