I have been trying to write something for a week now. Every time I start, I scribble, delete, re-write, and then finally give up and start scrolling.
And while scrolling — of course — I came across that Vogue article that has been doing laps around the internet: “Having a Boyfriend Is Embarrassing.”

More clicks than the writer probably expected. And honestly? It made me stop.
Not because I fully agreed, but because I felt something I wasn’t expecting: recognition.

Later, I ended up chatting with my girl-friend about it.
I asked her, “Be honest… is it really embarrassing to say you’re dating a guy?”
Her counter question was: “Have you ever been embarrassed dating someone?”

And let me tell you — the answer is YES.
Not in a dramatic, movie-level way. But that little ick where the guy is cute, sweet, nice, but something inside you still goes: “Umm… I don’t think I want to tell my friends about him.”
Not because he’s bad — but because something doesn’t qualify. Something doesn’t align. And yes, let the record show: this is not gender-biased before anyone comes running at me with opinions.

But the truth is, people — men and women — do feel embarrassed sometimes.
And I don’t even think it’s a new concept. I think we are just finally saying it out loud.

Honestly, in my head, if someone is embarrassed of you, it means they are not sure about you.
When something feels right, embarrassment has no place.
(And God knows how many times I have typed the word embarrassed already.)

If you have read my recent blog Red Flags & Green Passport, you will see the connection.
There I was talking about dating issues.
Here I am again — except I am not even dating anyone right now.

Even when I try, it ends like this:

• “Let’s see.”
• “You’re too bold.”
• “Please don’t put me in your blog.”
  (Omg relax, what makes you think you are that important?)

So yes — being single is daunting.
But being in a relationship? Also daunting.
Where exactly are we supposed to go?

It’s like that old saying:
If you don’t have the sweet, you feel bad. If you eat the sweet, you still feel bad.
Modern dating is just… that sweet.

And honestly, nothing happening today is new.
It’s just finally being spoken about instead of whispered.

Meanwhile, after all this deep thinking, I will still open Instagram, watch another couple get engaged, married, announce a baby — and I will be like:
“Anyway, let me go search the recipe for the food I’m craving right now.”

Ending up lonely isn’t the plan.
But ending up with someone I feel ashamed of?
Definitely not in my cards.

So here I am — unsure whether the “next one” or the “right one” will ever appear.
But hopefully someday, none of us will feel embarrassed about the person we are dating — whether it’s labelled, unlabeled, a situationship, half-baked talking stage, or whatever new term invents tomorrow.

If this ick hit you at some point, tell me. I swear these things become the best stories later or feel free to comment below!