Lately, I’ve been spending time with friends who’ve taken me to places I’d never been and introduced me to industries I barely knew existed. It’s been such an eye-opener to see life beyond F&B — to hear fresh perspectives from other worlds. Sure, the economy’s been rough, but it’s more than that. People are spending differently, their priorities shifting. And somewhere between the coffee, the meals, and the late-night talks, my friends shared something that really made me pause:
Those people we see on social media — the ones who seem like they’re conquering the world — often feel the most fragile in their personal lives. Many of them have low confidence, are afraid to meet new people, and worry that any new connection will come with drama they’re not ready for. And in that conversation, I had my aha moment.
I realized that in cities like ours, where performance is everything, we start treating our personal lives like another task to manage. Always thinking five steps ahead. Always on guard. Dating begins to feel like preparing a Q4 forecast instead of an unpredictable, messy, and sometimes magical part of being human. But dating — like life — is full of uncertainty. And without facing rejection, we won’t learn courage. Without ghosting, we won’t learn the value of those who stay.
That conversation reminded me: it’s not about perfecting romance like we perfect a project plan. It’s about letting go of the work title, loosening the grip on control, and leaning into the chaos and beauty of connection.
