Tinder. The mere mention of the word sends images of catfishing and creepers running through all our minds. We've all heard of a dating horror story which begun on a dating app, Tinder just being one of the many more infamous ones.
However, it is just the modern dating age we are in. Dating apps can either be your greatest dream come true or your worst nightmare depending on your take on them. On one hand, you have access to millions of other people ready to mingle. On the other, it can be a toxic breeding ground for superficiality and bad intentions. But that's just life- dating included.
You have your good and you have your bad. Your dream princess could be a black widow; Your prince charming just a plain frog.
Yet, above all else, dating apps can be a tool. A useful one at that. I used it as a tool for one of my precious boos.
All my boos are completely deserving of finding true love that suits their individual needs. In fact, my boo or not, I think we each are deserving of that. Deserving of basic and healthy companionship. It's in our human nature to want such a thing, it's in our humanity.
My one boo and the center of this article was coincidently born on valentines day. Furthermore, by complete accident helped me in my own love story. For the sake of this story, I'll call her Cupid.
Cupid was lonely, extremely lonely, and wanted someone to share her life with. I stepped in to help her as it sounded like a job for a Best Friend (tm) AKA me!
My first instinct in her love crisis? Hook her up on Tinder!
It took me a couple of tries. We downloaded Tinder together, she deleted it, we downloaded it again. It was an ongoing cycle. Until one day I stepped in further. I downloaded and looked at the guys with her. We checked them out together and carefully read their bios.
There was still work to be done. She continuously swiped them all away, even the cute ones. So I started to coach her. We built up criteria of her standards and tastes. She started giving some people a chance and opened up a conversation. She was blooming and started to meet people online.
That's the first big step in dating- putting yourself out there.
Eventually, she messaged this one guy she was interested in. What happened a year later? They are still happy, in love, and celebrating their 1st year together!
Cupid came a long way in her love life and celebrating this year is the first of many in her love story and I'm so happy for her.
Congratulations boo!
Tinder may not be the answer to all of our problems and it is by no means perfect, but it can and does produce some very wholesome love stories. Yet, in saying that it's okay to be single and not be in a relationship. It's okay to meet someone online or long distance. It's okay to have either a traditional or unique love story.
Romance isn't a competition. Love at your own pace and the rest will follow.