My Tinder love story

I am writing this as the sun rises over Osaka. I had scheduled this trip completely forgetting that it covers the day James and I met! I have never been good at anniversaries but I want to remember this day as the luckiest day of my life so far.

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you would know that this time last year my seven-year relationship crashed and burned in the most cliche way possible. It was the most painful thing I have ever experienced - I cried everyday for three weeks, EVERYDAY, and my heart hurt physically. I couldn't eat (breakups are the best way to diet after all). My whole life was in a complete upheaval , and for a creature of routine, that was a bitch. To say the least.

I remember it was a bright and hot Sunday. My mom had just left my condo after consoling me the evening before with well-meaning I-told-you-sos. My mom is awesome. But after she left I was bored. I had re-arranged the furniture the day before and there was nothing to do except mope again, but I didn't want that.

So I downloaded Tinder for the first time.  I mean, what's a newly-single girl to do? 

I swiped with glee for about an hour until I saw James's profile. He wore a suit that fit great, he seemed to have an interesting career, but most important of all, he read science fiction. It's actually hard to find people who like reading science fiction...and by that I don't mean Hunger Games. I felt we could be compatible so I swiped right.

To my surprise, we matched! Note that I've only been on Tinder for about an hour and I didn't write anything in my profile yet. He was my third match, and my first conversation on Tinder. That same evening, we decided to meet up. 

We talked for three straight hours. We talked about everything, our careers, books and movies we loved, the kinds of friends we kept. We've been pretty much inseparable since then! 

Of course, at first, I thought it was too good to be true. We both just came from long-term relationships and there was a very real possibility that we could just be rebounds - at least, that's what our friends warned. But it didn't feel like that. We weren't really the type to waste time that way.

And so it's been a year. I don't know what to say, really! I love him so much. He gives me books. He teaches me tennis. He loves my food. He suggests outfit ideas (seriously). He lets me try beauty products on his face (but I hate that his skin is better than mine ugh). 

He takes care of me - actually right now he is house-sitting and taking care of my dog haha. He understands my dreams and does everything in his power to help me make them happen. When I am my own worst enemy, he tells me why I shouldn't be. When I feel hopeless and flawed, he encourages me to try again.

I am incredibly lucky to have met him exactly this day a year ago, and in such an unlikely place. Tinder. Hah. Who knew.

Why am I sharing this story with you? I actually thought long and hard if I should publish something this personal in my blog! But if you are in a bad place such as I was, I want you to gain hope and strength from my own story. I want you to rise from the ashes of your dead relationship and realize that there is so much more out there to experience, build, fight for, and preserve. Perhaps you will get lucky like I did and find someone to do these things with. Perhaps you won't, but I want you to realize that isn't as important as finding the strength to take the next step towards the next chapter of your life.

Don't lose hope and never be afraid to begin again. That's all.