I hate the irrational and magical thinking the most. The last time I started dating was about a year after a breakup. I was over my ex and ready to date again, and knew what I wanted: either a platonic friendship or a monogamous romantic relationship, but no commitment-free sex or undefined situations. That seems rational and logical, right? But several people in my life essentially told me that I was “desperate” and “not ready to date” because I actively wanted to seek out another relationship and was taking the steps to look for one. By that backwards logic, would they have considered me “ready” for a relationship if I actively didn’t want to be in one? It makes no fucking sense.