I said I wouldn’t sign up to a dating app. I didn’t like the idea of being so disposable. That someone judges you based on your appearance and if you’re lucky, a short description of yourself. Then within a few seconds you can be swiped past, just like that. But this particular Sunday afternoon I was feeling brave. I felt like I was ready to open myself up to possibilities.
Watch: There are common mindsets women have towards dating when coming out of a toxic relationship or divorce. Post continues after video.
It took me hours to choose a good collection of pictures that portrayed different versions of me. Fun me, laidback me, everyday me. Then to write a cute little snapshot of who I was.
‘Fun-loving mum of three kids. Going out for cocktails with friends or reading a book in the sun, equally bring me joy.’
Then I just had to figure out how to use the app and swipe the right way for the right people, which was nerve-wracking in itself! After a few wrong swipes, I got the hang of it and started matching with a few guys and I attempted to chat. I even Googled how to start a conversation in a fun and flirty way! But boy it’s BRUTAL out there, people!
Just because you matched with someone doesn’t necessarily mean they WANT to chat to you, which kinda threw me. Isn’t that the whole point of being on a dating app? I was confused. But I persisted. After a while, I started chatting to a few different people and one particular guy I was really drawn to. He looked kind and handsome plus he had taken the time to write a good bio (a lot don’t even bother).
So, we started chatting. The conversation was easy. He was funny and cheeky and wasn’t afraid to ask the hard questions. And I liked that. A few weeks after chatting, we arranged to meet, and I was so relieved that the connection transferred from online to face-to-face. Continue reading “‘I started dating after a bad marriage ended. It was triggering beyond belief.’”