Jen Glantz

I realized, by the age of 25, that I needed to make new friends, and I needed to make them fast. Making friends as an adult is hard.

Friendship breakups are hard! My friend couldn’t give me much of a reason as to why she didn’t want to be gal pals any longer.

“Apps for anxiety,” I whispered in the middle of a panic attack, holding down the round circle button on the front of my iPhone connecting to Siri.

My first impression of the matchmaker was that she was someone with whom I’d be friends. Yet, my real friends turned out to be better matchmakers.

I soon realized that admiring everyone’s seemingly perfect life was making me spiral into a pit of holiday season depression and I couldn't climb out.

On each date, during my 14 first dates, whether good or bad, I started to realize that dating is more straightforward than it seems.

So my ask to all of the people out there who are married, engaged, or in a relationship, please stop asking us single people to do these four things.

I smiled and walked out the door, choosing myself over a guy, choosing my business over a person who wanted me to be someone I no longer was.

I’ll admit it; I, Jennifer Sara Glantz, have ghosted my fair share of guys in New York City. Nothing made me feel as bad as when I ghosted my therapist.

If you’re going down the gift route, here’s a guide so you can pick up the best gift to give the person you’re “sort of” dating on Valentine’s Day.