Absolutely. When the pandemic first hit, this was a big part of my distress, because how could I afford an indefinite amount of time off from finding my soulmate? I couldn’t. So, I updated my location on Hinge and kept swiping.

I believe each of these falls into what I’d like to define as core dating principles. They are: dating with integrity, dating responsibly, and dating with intention.

While I was taught to go into these situations with the assumption that I’m dealing with a properly, raised gentleman, I was also taught to bring my wallet and ask if he wants to split the check. Why? Well, one out of courtesy, but also two, the expectation is this young man knows better than to make me, a damsel in pursuit, pay for an evening he invited me to enjoy.

I was walking down 125th st and Malcolm X blvd, eating munchkins with my headphones in(read: minding my business💅🏽), when some guy rode by me with his head out of the window(trying to get my attention). Obviously a savage, I should've known then, but after he parked and approached me with some dignity, I went against my better judgment and gave him a chance anyway.