If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a "got a boyfriend yet?" or watched everyone around you tick off life milestones while you’re still getting your shit together, this one’s for you.

I used to wonder if the kind of man I wanted to date even existed, or if I was just asking for too much. Whilst I very much believe my dream relationship exists, I’d never actually had my own proof that that was the case. But a recent Hinge match proved something powerful: it’s not about lowering your standards, it’s about holding them—and trusting that the right person will meet you there.

There’s been a quiet transformation happening behind the scenes lately.

Not a flashy 12-week glow-up. Not a six-figures-in-six-days type rebrand. But a slow, intentional, soulful shift back to who I really am, and the most confident I’ve ever felt in myself.

All I could think about was moving to Mexico. Or Bali. Or Vietnam. And for a second, an old pattern began to show.

You see, I've had experiences like this many a time. Moments where I'm reminded that where I'm currently at in life is far a-fucking-way from where I dream of being.