I think part of the downfall of dating is that a new or old potential partner is always just an app, text, or phone call away. Because of that, I don’t know that I’ve actually seen many relationships develop while people continuously jump from person to person.
Everyone complains about the same things:
Men feel used.
Women feel sexualized or can’t find someone genuine.
Both sides seem exhausted.
Yet with SO many people in the world, compatibility somehow feels harder than ever.
I also think a lot of people stay stuck in their own box and rarely challenge their own patterns, expectations, or behaviors.
Personally, I don’t like talking to a bunch of different men at once. I can tell how much I’ve changed in my 30s because I used to mistake toxicity and instant emotional intensity for love. I would feel immediately attached and convinced someone was “the one” almost right away.
Now, I think the endless option pool creates a cycle where people never fully try to get to know each other before moving on to the next possibility.
I don’t stress about finding a partner anymore. Sometimes I have moments where I wish I had someone around, but I also haven’t met many people I genuinely feel I could peacefully coexist with long term. Even small things matter now. My last date seemed like he hadn’t showered in two days and I was instantly irritated. 😭
It honestly makes me wonder what would happen if two people gave each other one month of intentional exclusivity, assuming there are no major red flags, just to see whether the grass actually needs watering instead of constantly searching for a greener lawn.