The power had shifted. I knew it. We’d been on six dates and were definitely at the “are you in or are you out” point. I’d gone and caught feelz and he’d backed off. The tone of our texts had changed. What had once been emoticon-punctuated questions were now short, abbreviated answers. Friggin’ consultant language. Why do they have to abbreviate everything?
Frustrated, I opened Tinder and began swiping. Swipe, swipe, match, swipe, match, match, match. The instant gratification provided a momentary escape from my rejection. The irony is that I know better. I’m a mental health therapist who preaches constantly about “refraining, sitting with uncomfortable feelings and practicing self-compassion.” I teach this mindfulness strategy to clients, helping them overcome destructive behaviors or unhelpful behaviors. Sometimes, I can practice what I preach. Right now was definitely not one of those times