In his book Essentialism, Greg McKeown writes, “Remember that if you don’t prioritize your life someone else will.”

Think about that for a minute. The idea is simple and straightforward, and it’s also 100% true. If you don’t set and enforce your own boundaries around what is important to you, someone or something else — work, friends, family — will control your life for you.

“Remember that if you don’t prioritize your life someone else will.” — Greg McKeown, Essentialism

This is exactly what was happening to me at a previous employer. I had a corporate position in a large…

When I first matched with Joe on Tinder, I was attracted to his simple straightforwardness. He had two profile pictures, one showing him in a photo with his parents and two sisters, the other showing him riding a horse. His bio was succinct, too: “Cowboy transplant from North Dakota.”

He was definitely different than the other men I’d dated, and I was pleased when we started messaging and his candor shone through. He asked me to go square dancing with him at a country-music club. I’m not much of a square dancer, but I said yes anyway, with genuine delight.

…

Before I even met him, my roommate dubbed Ian “Mr. Perfect.” He worked as a medical researcher (so we had shared interests), he had two older sisters (so I felt sure he’d know how to treat a woman well), and, to top it all off, he had a head full of thick, dark hair and teeth like white Chiclets.

After we matched, we messaged back and forth for awhile. He was charming, flirty, and interesting, and I felt more excited about him than I had about anybody else in a while. Even the date idea he suggested was cool and…

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a Disney fan. As a child, my favorite movie of all time was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I would watch it over and over again, crying out to warn Snow White every time she was about to bite into the evil witch’s apple. There was just something so magical about Disney films.

Then I went to Disney World, and my conception of ‘magic’ grew exponentially. Disney World wasn’t (and still isn’t) like other theme parks, where the rides are the main draw and everything else is just thin decoration…

I’ve never been super outdoorsy — I have no problem admitting that I’d much rather go glamping than camping (or, better yet, spend the night in a nice hotel). That being said, I do like nice walks in the park, active nature hikes, and beautiful scenery. After a few months of what passed for winter in Atlanta, I was feeling a bit thirsty for the great outdoors — for something nature-y, something definitively not in the city.

Maybe that’s why Duke’s Tinder profile caught my attention. In his picture, he wore a natural-colored uniform and wide brimmed hat, and he…

After months of Tindering without much success, I decided it might be in my best interest to switch up my Tinder profile picture. I had recently been to a gala at the Georgia Aquarium, and with my hair freshly styled, my fanciest red dress, and my I-only-wear-these-if-I-absolutely-have-to heels, I was really looking my best in the photos from that night. With more than a touch of excitement, I changed my main picture to my glammed-up shot.

My first match after my profile refresh was Dane, who, in his business suit and tie, looked both professional and capable in his photo…

When I read in Mark’s Tinder bio that he worked at Emory hospital, I was immediately interested. Clearly, here was a guy who was educated, had a legitimate and impressive job, and, no small deal in Atlanta, he must live close to me if he worked at Emory. Plus, he was cute. Swiping right was almost a reflex.

Much to my delight, Mark invited me to a ‘Paint and Sip’ night for our first date — you know, one of those hour-long ‘classes’ where couples have drinks and try to paint something at least semi-coherent on a canvas. I’d never…

Perhaps I should have gotten the hint when I read Jamie’s Tinder bio, but I honestly thought he was kidding. His bio read, “Opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one. But me — I have way more than one.”

Funny, right? I actually laughed out loud when I read it, figuring that a guy with a sense of humor would make a good date.

I first realized my mistake when I saw what was, unmistakably, his vehicle pull into the parking lot of the small restaurant he had invited me to. The car itself was nothing remarkable — a blue-gray…