The Evil Called Love

  You’ve just had the most amazing first date. It was like something out of a cheesy rom-com where the rain starts falling just as you kiss goodnight. You’re floating on cloud nine, convinced that you’ve finally found “the one.” But what if, instead of finding the love of your life, you’re just feeding a delusion? Let’s be honest: first dates are basically auditions.  We all put our best foot forward, wearing clothes we wouldn’t normally wear and talking about interests we barely care about. We’re not meeting the real person; we’re meeting their representative. And let’s face it, representatives are always on their best behavior. When you feel an intense connection right away, it’s easy to think you’ve met your soulmate. But more often than not, this is just your brain playing tricks on you. It’s called “projection,” and it’s when you project all your hopes and dreams onto someone you’ve just met. They’re not “the one”; they’re a blank canvas you’ve painted with your ideal par...

There you are, sitting across from a stranger who is suddenly not a stranger. Sparks fly, the room fades away, and you find yourself speaking in a movie script. “This is it,” you think. “I’ve found the one!” But before you start planning your couple’s Instagram handle, let’s pause for a reality check. We all love a good story. That love story worth posting online. We all want that. The problem is, we often turn dates into mini-romantic comedies in our heads. After just one date, we convince ourselves that we’ve met our soulmate. Why? Because it feels good. Because it’s exciting. And because no one wants to admit that finding true love might actually take, well, a little more effort than a couple of overpriced cocktails. The truth is, feeling a connection on a first date is more about chemistry than compatibility. Chemistry is fun; it’s fireworks and butterflies. But compatibility is quieter. It’s built on shared values, mutual respect, and those little things that make or break a rel...