Beth Cormack

I’ve been working on refocusing my mind to things I do care about. People who make me better rather than drag me down. I haven’t been putting too much pressure on myself to go on first dates I don’t feel like going on. I haven’t been blaming myself for feeling “damaged” at times, because, yeah, life is debilitating and damaging at times.

This post is for people who are like me: sorta broke (but ~woke~), sorta lost, and sorta hate using the term “adulting” because you seem to be so damn bad at it. Am I making enough money? Is this the right career move? When’s the last time I got my teeth cleaned? Sh*t rent was due yesterday. I’m broke, but wanna go to Sweetgreen?

When you start to identify yourself as someone less than who you are is when you need to walk away. When manipulation becomes more harmful than harmless is when you need to stand up.

There is TRULY nothing sexier than a man who respects women. Like, truly respects them. A feminist male, if you will.

“Cat calling” is not “just a compliment.” “Locker room talk” is not “just a thing boys do.” I like my Urban dress. I like the way it fits, the way that it goes perfectly with nearly every pair of shoes I own. I don’t wear it for you. I wear it for me.

“You’re so cool,” he’d always say.

Translation: “You never call me out for treating you like shit, so I’ll keep you around.”

A 23 year old single bartender living in the nation’s capital: a demographic I presently fall into which I have come to find out is few and far between.

Dating is weird and exhausting on so many levels, but you’re only making the process worse if you stick with what you know.

People are going to tell you that right now is the time to jumpstart your career. To figure out the best way to get ahead of the next guy. And they’re right-that is important. But don’t settle for something just because you feel like you need to follow the rigid societal structure for the rest of your life.

I can’t accurately describe what gaining 15 pounds overnight feels like, but I will tell you that it f*cking sucks.

It doesn’t mean I’m head over heels for you or you’re the person I want to have my babies with. So relax.

I didn’t go Nantucket searching for the love of my life. I didn’t go looking for a boyfriend or a man to fill some empty void. I went because I like to take chances, I like to put myself out there despite the disappointments that I can never seem to escape from. I went because I’m a freaking hopeless romantic. Sue me.

Swiping right and reading “It’s a match!” boosts my confidence for a moment, then it stagnates once again. The countless “hey what’s up?” messages all become meshed into one, and I can’t be bothered.

My life is all over the place. Not in a bad way, but I’m always looking forward to the next big thing.

I have more questions than I do answers. And that is what perhaps scares me the most.

I drafted a post titled “23 things I wish I knew at 22.” Haha, wait, am I actually significantly older and wiser than I was at 22? Ummmm….I’m going to go with a hard “no.”