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Why It’s Okay for Single, Child-Free Women to Prefer Men Without Kids
Read more: Why It’s Okay for Single, Child-Free Women to Prefer Men Without KidsIn a culture that often demands women be endlessly nurturing, endlessly flexible, and endlessly available, the idea that a woman, particularly a single, child-free one, might choose not to date a man with children is often met with criticism or guilt trips. But, here’s the reality: it’s perfectly okay to know what you want and…
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The Art of Saying No: Graceful Ways to Decline in Any Situation
Read more: The Art of Saying No: Graceful Ways to Decline in Any SituationSaying no is a skill everyone needs and, yet, many of us struggle with it. We worry about hurting feelings, burning bridges, or seeming unkind. But, the truth is saying no is not rude or selfish. It’s an essential act of recovery and self‑respect. Whether you’re turning down a date, a work project, or a…
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You Can Be a Good Person — and a Terrible Partner
Read more: You Can Be a Good Person — and a Terrible PartnerOne of the most common misconceptions in relationships is that being a “good person” automatically makes you a good partner. It’s an easy assumption to make. After all, if someone is kind, responsible, and generally well‑liked, why wouldn’t those qualities translate into their intimate relationships? But, the truth is…you can be a good person and…
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Stay Safe Out Here: Essential Safety Protocols for Dating (and Beyond)
Read more: Stay Safe Out Here: Essential Safety Protocols for Dating (and Beyond)It’s a sad truth, but an unavoidable one: when you’re a woman, you have to think about safety in ways that men simply don’t, especially in dating. Whether it’s your first, third date, or even once you’re in a relationship, there are basic precautions you should take. Not because you’re paranoid, but because you’re wise…
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Why an Insecure Friend Is Worse Than a Full-Fledged Enemy
Read more: Why an Insecure Friend Is Worse Than a Full-Fledged EnemyMost of us know how to handle an enemy. They’re clear, open, and predictable in their opposition. You know where you stand, and you know they mean you no good. But an insecure friend (“I.F.”)?That’s far more dangerous. Because an insecure friend wears the mask of love while planting seeds of harm. They sit in…
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When Rejection Turns to Retaliation: The Petty Playbook of Fragile Men
Read more: When Rejection Turns to Retaliation: The Petty Playbook of Fragile MenSome men feel entitled to a woman’s attention. To them, her interest is a debt she owes simply for being asked. When that entitlement meets a fragile ego, rejection doesn’t just hurt, it devastates. And when they can’t regain control physically, they often turn to something quieter, but just as malicious: trying to ruin her…
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Beware the Anglerfish: Why the Pearl is Never on Display
Read more: Beware the Anglerfish: Why the Pearl is Never on DisplayNot everything beautiful is easy to see and not everything easy to see is beautiful. This is a lesson worth learning early on because not everyone who shines in front of you is who or what they seem. Some people put everything they have on full display because it’s all. they. have. They polish what…
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Feminism Isn’t About Hating Men—It’s About Honoring Everyone’s Strength
Read more: Feminism Isn’t About Hating Men—It’s About Honoring Everyone’s StrengthWhat Feminism Really Means When some people hear the word feminism, they imagine women marching through the streets waving angry signs or see a woman confidently raising her hand in a classroom with unshaven armpits. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. At its core, feminism isn’t about hating men or devaluing masculinity. It’s…
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Not Sure If You’re Ready for Love? Let’s Find Out.
Read more: Not Sure If You’re Ready for Love? Let’s Find Out.I worked hard on this quiz—mainly because I know what it feels like to think you’re ready for love when you’re not. I’ve definitely been emotionally unavailable myself, even until pretty recently. It’s not always obvious at first, especially if you’re good at going through the motions: dating, showing up, saying the right things. But,…
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‘At Least He Came Back’ Isn’t the Goal: Make Sure It’s for the Right Reasons
Read more: ‘At Least He Came Back’ Isn’t the Goal: Make Sure It’s for the Right ReasonsWe’ve all done it: shrugged our shoulders, sighed, and started a sentence with the infamous: “Well, at least he…” At least he works.At least he says sorry, eventually.At least he doesn’t cheat. But, let’s pause here, because every time you start justifying someone’s bare-minimum behavior with “at least,” you’re not defending love. You’re defending lowered…
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They’re Sleeping on You? Good. Let them.
Read more: They’re Sleeping on You? Good. Let them.Being underestimated isn’t always an insult. In fact, it can be a hidden gift, one that grants you space, clarity, and the element of surprise. Whether it’s at work, in relationships, or while chasing your goals, being overlooked (or doubted) may sting at first, but it can ultimately work in your favor. We live in…
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Support Your People the Right Way: Pay Full Price
Read more: Support Your People the Right Way: Pay Full PriceWe love to chant “Support Black businesses,” “Shop small,” or “Buy local,” but when it comes to our friends and family, the approach sometimes shifts. Instead of showing up as paying customers, we might default to asking for favors or expecting special treatment, often without meaning harm. But, what we don’t always realize is that…
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The DDB Standard: Deaf to Hints, Dumb to Mixed Signals, Blind to Maybes
Read more: The DDB Standard: Deaf to Hints, Dumb to Mixed Signals, Blind to MaybesI know how it looks. You text me a vague invite and I don’t respond. You drop a flirty hint, and I don’t take the bait. You assume I didn’t notice, but I did… In the early stages of dating, I move differently. Some might call it cold and distant, but I call it being…
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When Helping Becomes Harmful: The Truth About Enabling Loved Ones
Read more: When Helping Becomes Harmful: The Truth About Enabling Loved OnesLove can make us do beautiful things: offer grace, extend compassion, and stand beside someone in their darkest hour. But, sometimes, in the name of love, we cross a line. We stop encouraging growth and start protecting the people we love from the outcomes of their own behavior. It feels like love. It feels like…
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Bring Back the Ballads: Vulnerable Love Songs by Men
Read more: Bring Back the Ballads: Vulnerable Love Songs by MenThere was a time when men weren’t afraid to beg. To plead. To cry in a song. They sang about heartbreak, about messing up, about missing someone so deeply it changed them. They didn’t mask their emotions behind bravado or hide behind hyper-independence. They were honest and vulnerable. Somewhere along the way, we lost much…
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Why Some Boys from Single-Mother Households Demonize Mothers over Absent Fathers
Read more: Why Some Boys from Single-Mother Households Demonize Mothers over Absent FathersThere’s a quiet grief that lives in the corners of some single-mother households. It doesn’t only bury itself in mothers, but tightly latches onto their sons. It’s a grief rooted in absence, abandonment, and silence. Yet, in a painful twist of fate, it’s often the present, active mother, the one who stayed, sacrificed, and stitched…
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What Cringe Teaches You (If You Let It)
Read more: What Cringe Teaches You (If You Let It)Everyone has at least one memory that makes their stomach drop. Maybe it’s your voice cracking in a meeting when all eyes are on you. Or that moment you say “you too” to a barista who tells you to enjoy your coffee. Or far worse: the night you say “I love you” and are met…
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Love Stories Don’t Always End with Periods
Read more: Love Stories Don’t Always End with PeriodsWhen a relationship ends, especially one that left you with questions, it’s natural to crave closure. We’re taught that closure is the final step in the healing process: a moment of mutual understanding, a calm conversation, or an explanation that helps us make sense of what went wrong. But, what if healing doesn’t actually require…
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The Savior Complex: Why Some Men Pursue Women They Can “Fix”
Read more: The Savior Complex: Why Some Men Pursue Women They Can “Fix”There’s a certain kind of man who doesn’t want a partner per se. What he truly wants is a project. He doesn’t say it outright. In fact, his interest might initially seem like compassion. He gravitates toward a woman in distress: the one going through a breakup, recovering from trauma, struggling financially, or battling low…
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The Most Naïve Things I’ve Done While Dating Men in the Past & What I Learned the Hard Way
Read more: The Most Naïve Things I’ve Done While Dating Men in the Past & What I Learned the Hard WayIf you’ve ever looked back on a dating situation and cringed, not just at what he did, but at what you tolerated, excused, or tried to rationalize, you’re in good company. Growth isn’t always graceful. Sometimes, it shows up dressed like regret, with a side of “how did I not see that coming?” These are…
Lence in Layers 