thoughtcatalog--2020-08-18--10 Books That Will Make You Believe In Love Again

“ Meet Pepper , swim team captain , chronic overachiever , and all-around perfectionist .
Her family may be falling apart , but their massive fast-food chain is booming — mainly thanks to Pepper , who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger ’ s massive Twitter account .
Enter Jack , class clown and constant thorn in Pepper ’ s side .
When he isn ’ t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin ’ s shadow , he ’ s busy working in his family ’ s deli .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future might be love/hate , but when Big League Burger steals his grandma ’ s iconic grilled cheese recipe , he ’ ll do whatever it takes to take them down , one tweet at a time .
All ’ s fair in love and cheese — that is , until Pepper and Jack ’ s spat turns into a viral Twitter war .
Little do they know , while they ’ re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles , they ’ re also falling for each other in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app Jack built .
As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate — people on the internet are shipping them ?
?
— their battle gets more and more personal , until even these two rivals can ’ t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected , awkward , all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.
” “ When his mother became President , Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal .
Handsome , charismatic , genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem : Alex has a beef with the actual prince , Henry , across the pond .
And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation , U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse .
Heads of family , state , and other handlers devise a plan for damage control : staging a truce between the two rivals .
What at first begins as a fake , Instragramable friendship grows deeper , and more dangerous , than either Alex or Henry could have imagined .
Soon Alex finds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question : Can love save the world after all ?
” 3 .
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez “ Two years after losing her fiancé , Sloan Monroe still can ’ t seem to get her life back on track .
But one trouble-making pup with a ‘ take me home ’ look in his eyes is about to change everything .
With her new pet by her side , Sloan finally starts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after weeks of unanswered texts , Tucker ’ s owner reaches out .
He ’ s a musician on tour in Australia .
And bottom line : He wants Tucker back .
Well , Sloan ’ s not about to give up her dog without a fight .
But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker ?
As their flirty texts turn into long calls , Sloan can ’ t deny a connection .
Jason is hot and nice and funny .
There ’ s no telling what could happen when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : With his music career on the rise , how long will Jason really stick around ?
And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak ?
” “ Welcome to Little Bridge , one of the smallest , most beautiful islands in the Florida Keys , home to sandy white beaches , salt-rimmed margaritas , and stunning sunsets—a place where nothing goes under the radar and love has a way of sneaking up when least expected… A broken engagement only gave Molly Montgomery additional incentive to follow her dream job from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , as Little Bridge Island Public Library ’ s head of children ’ s services , Molly hopes the messiest thing in her life will be her sticky-note covered desk .
But fate—in the form of a newborn left in the restroom—has other ideas .
So does the sheriff who comes to investigate the “ abandonment ” .
When John Hartwell folds all six-feet-three of himself into a tiny chair and insists that whoever left the baby is a criminal , Molly begs to differ and asks what he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime wave ( if thefts of items from homes that have been left unlocked could be called that ) .
Not the best of starts , but the man ’ s arrogance is almost as distracting as his blue eyes .
Almost… John would be pretty irritated if one of his deputies had a desk as disorderly as Molly ’ s .
Good thing she doesn ’ t work for him , considering how attracted he is to her .
Molly ’ s lilting librarian voice makes even the saltiest remarks go down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she ’ s a witness but might be good once the case is solved—provided he hasn ’ t gotten on her last nerve by then .
Recently divorced , John has been having trouble adjusting to single life as well as single parenthood .
But something in Molly ’ s beautiful smile gives John hope that his old life on Little Bridge might suddenly hold new promise—if only they can get over their differences.
” “ Danika Brown knows what she wants : professional success , academic renown , and an occasional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that career-driven tension .
But romance ?
Been there , done that , burned the T-shirt .
Romantic partners , whatever their gender , are a distraction at best and a drain at worst .
So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom .
When big , brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong , it ’ s an obvious sign : PhD student Dani and former rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that fact to him , a video of the heroic rescue goes viral .
Suddenly , half the internet is shipping # DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along .
Turns out his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity .
Lying to help children ?
Who on earth would refuse ?
Dani ’ s plan is simple : fake a relationship in public , seduce Zaf behind the scenes .
The trouble is , grumpy Zaf is secretly a hopeless romantic—and he ’ s determined to corrupt Dani ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s tackling her fears into the dirt .
But the former sports star has issues of his own , and the walls around his heart are as thick as his… um , thighs .
The easy lay Dani dreamed of is now more complex than her thesis .
Has her wish backfired ?
Is her focus being tested ?
Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint ?
” 6 .
The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth “ Seventeen-year-old cynic Saoirse Clarke isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she meets mischievous Ruby , that rule goes right out the window .
Sort of .
Because Ruby has a loophole in mind : a summer of all the best cliché movie montage dates , with a definite ending come fall—no broken hearts , no messy breakup .
It would be the perfect plan , if they weren ’ t forgetting one thing about the Falling in Love Montage : when it ’ s over , the characters have fallen in love… for real.
” 7 .
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olivia Monroe ’ s mind when she moves to LA to start her own law firm .
But when she meets a gorgeous man at a hotel bar and they spend the entire night flirting , she discovers too late that he is none other than hotshot junior senator Max Powell .
Olivia has zero interest in dating a politician , but when a cake arrives at her office with the cutest message , she can ’ t resist—it is chocolate cake , after all .
Olivia is surprised to find that Max @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just some privileged white politician , as she assumed him to be .
Because of Max ’ s high-profile job , they start seeing each other secretly , which leads to clandestine dates and silly disguises .
But when they finally go public , the intense media scrutiny means people are now digging up her rocky past and criticizing her job , even her suitability as a trophy girlfriend .
Olivia knows what she has with Max is something special , but is it strong enough to survive the heat of the spotlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : a strong and often short-lived infatuation , particularly for someone beyond your reach… Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men .
She ’ s traveled the world , and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska , whose only flaw is that Darcy ’ s twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend .
Despite Darcy ’ s best efforts , Tom ’ s off limits and loyal to her brother , 99 % .
That ’ s the problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight and peaking in her photography career at age twenty—ever since , she ’ s had to learn to settle for good enough .
When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother , they ’ re left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory and sell the property .
Darcy plans to be in an aisle seat halfway across the ocean as soon as the renovations start , but before she can cut and run , she finds a familiar face on her porch : house-flipper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s bearing power tools , and he ’ s single for the first time in almost a decade .
Suddenly Darcy ’ s considering sticking around to make sure her twin doesn ’ t ruin the cottage ’ s inherent magic with his penchant for grey and chrome .
She ’ s definitely not staying because of her new business partner ’ s tight t-shirts , or that perfect face that ’ s inspiring her to pick up her camera again .
Soon sparks are flying—and it ’ s not the faulty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Tom ’ s heart might not be enough for Darcy anymore .
This time around , she ’ s switching things up .
She ’ s going to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers.
” What he needs is for his favorite author to release another one of her sexy supernatural novels and more people to sign up for the romance book club that he fears is slowly and steadily losing its steam .
He also needs for the new employee at his local bookstore to stop making fun of him for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The very last thing he needs is for that same employee , Rex Bailey , to waltz into his living room and ask to join Meet Cute Club .
Despite his immediate thoughts—like laughing in his face and telling him to kick rocks—Jordan decides that if he wants this club to continue thriving , he can ’ t turn away any new members .
Not even ones like Rex , who somehow manages to be both frustratingly obnoxious and breathtakingly handsome .
As Jordan and Rex team up to bring the club back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Rex might not be the arrogant troll he made himself out to be , and that , like with all things in life , maybe he was wrong to judge a book by its cover.
” 10 .
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane “ If faking love is this easy… how do you know when it ’ s real ?
When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things , Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying .
When news of her ex ’ s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine , taking the humiliation lying down is not an option .
Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility .
Jamie Carter doesn ’ t believe in love , but he needs a respectable , steady girlfriend to impress their bosses .
Laurie wants a hot new man to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about .
It ’ s the perfect proposition : a fauxmance played out on social media , with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind .
With the plan hatched , Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status , to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues .
But there ’ s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming , handsome fake boyfriend… ”

1. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
“Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming — mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.
Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.
All’s fair in love and cheese — that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life — on an anonymous chat app Jack built.
As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate — people on the internet are shipping them?? — their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.”
2. Red, White, And Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
“When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.
Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all?”
3. The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
“Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can’t seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a ‘take me home’ look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker’s owner reaches out. He’s a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back.
Well, Sloan’s not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can’t deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There’s no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?”
4. No Offense by Meg Cabot
“Welcome to Little Bridge, one of the smallest, most beautiful islands in the Florida Keys, home to sandy white beaches, salt-rimmed margaritas, and stunning sunsets—a place where nothing goes under the radar and love has a way of sneaking up when least expected…
A broken engagement only gave Molly Montgomery additional incentive to follow her dream job from the Colorado Rockies to the Florida Keys. Now, as Little Bridge Island Public Library’s head of children’s services, Molly hopes the messiest thing in her life will be her sticky-note covered desk. But fate—in the form of a newborn left in the restroom—has other ideas. So does the sheriff who comes to investigate the “abandonment”. When John Hartwell folds all six-feet-three of himself into a tiny chair and insists that whoever left the baby is a criminal, Molly begs to differ and asks what he’s doing about the Island’s real crime wave (if thefts of items from homes that have been left unlocked could be called that). Not the best of starts, but the man’s arrogance is almost as distracting as his blue eyes. Almost…
John would be pretty irritated if one of his deputies had a desk as disorderly as Molly’s. Good thing she doesn’t work for him, considering how attracted he is to her. Molly’s lilting librarian voice makes even the saltiest remarks go down sweeter, which is bad as long as she’s a witness but might be good once the case is solved—provided he hasn’t gotten on her last nerve by then. Recently divorced, John has been having trouble adjusting to single life as well as single parenthood. But something in Molly’s beautiful smile gives John hope that his old life on Little Bridge might suddenly hold new promise—if only they can get over their differences.”
5. Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
“Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.
When big, brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and former rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact to him, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Suddenly, half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?
Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf is secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his… um, thighs.
The easy lay Dani dreamed of is now more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?”
6. The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth
“Seventeen-year-old cynic Saoirse Clarke isn’t looking for a relationship. But when she meets mischievous Ruby, that rule goes right out the window. Sort of.
Because Ruby has a loophole in mind: a summer of all the best cliché movie montage dates, with a definite ending come fall—no broken hearts, no messy breakup. It would be the perfect plan, if they weren’t forgetting one thing about the Falling in Love Montage: when it’s over, the characters have fallen in love… for real.”
7. Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
“Dating is the last thing on Olivia Monroe’s mind when she moves to LA to start her own law firm. But when she meets a gorgeous man at a hotel bar and they spend the entire night flirting, she discovers too late that he is none other than hotshot junior senator Max Powell. Olivia has zero interest in dating a politician, but when a cake arrives at her office with the cutest message, she can’t resist—it is chocolate cake, after all.
Olivia is surprised to find that Max is sweet, funny, and noble—not just some privileged white politician, as she assumed him to be. Because of Max’s high-profile job, they start seeing each other secretly, which leads to clandestine dates and silly disguises. But when they finally go public, the intense media scrutiny means people are now digging up her rocky past and criticizing her job, even her suitability as a trophy girlfriend. Olivia knows what she has with Max is something special, but is it strong enough to survive the heat of the spotlight?”
8. 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
“Crush (n.): a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach…
Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men. She’s traveled the world, and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that Darcy’s twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend. Despite Darcy’s best efforts, Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. That’s the problem with finding her dream man at age eight and peaking in her photography career at age twenty—ever since, she’s had to learn to settle for good enough.
When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother, they’re left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory and sell the property. Darcy plans to be in an aisle seat halfway across the ocean as soon as the renovations start, but before she can cut and run, she finds a familiar face on her porch: house-flipper extraordinaire Tom’s arrived, he’s bearing power tools, and he’s single for the first time in almost a decade.
Suddenly Darcy’s considering sticking around to make sure her twin doesn’t ruin the cottage’s inherent magic with his penchant for grey and chrome. She’s definitely not staying because of her new business partner’s tight t-shirts, or that perfect face that’s inspiring her to pick up her camera again. Soon sparks are flying—and it’s not the faulty wiring. It turns out one percent of Tom’s heart might not be enough for Darcy anymore. This time around, she’s switching things up. She’s going to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers.”
9. Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon
“Jordan Collins doesn’t need a man.
What he needs is for his favorite author to release another one of her sexy supernatural novels and more people to sign up for the romance book club that he fears is slowly and steadily losing its steam. He also needs for the new employee at his local bookstore to stop making fun of him for reading things meant for “grandmas.”
The very last thing he needs is for that same employee, Rex Bailey, to waltz into his living room and ask to join Meet Cute Club. Despite his immediate thoughts—like laughing in his face and telling him to kick rocks—Jordan decides that if he wants this club to continue thriving, he can’t turn away any new members. Not even ones like Rex, who somehow manages to be both frustratingly obnoxious and breathtakingly handsome.
As Jordan and Rex team up to bring the club back from the ashes, Jordan soon discovers that Rex might not be the arrogant troll he made himself out to be, and that, like with all things in life, maybe he was wrong to judge a book by its cover.”
10. If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
“If faking love is this easy… how do you know when it’s real?
When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.
Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend…”


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-18--6 Things To Remember When You’re Falling Behind On Your Goals

1 .
You don ’ t have to stick to a specific timeline .
When you were a teenager , you probably had a good idea of where you wanted to be when you were twenty-five or thirty , but the younger version of yourself had no idea what life was going to put you through .
You ’ ve faced more hardships than you could ’ ve imagined and you ’ ve conquered more demons than you ever thought possible .
You shouldn ’ t feel like you ’ ve disappointed yourself — or anyone around you .
Remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet your goals by a specific age .
You have more time .
You shouldn ’ t feel like a failure , simply because success is taking longer than you originally thought .
2 .
You ’ re the only one beating yourself up about this .
It ’ s good you ’ re taking responsibility for your actions .
It ’ s good you ’ re putting in the effort to reach your goals .
But remember , everyone makes mistakes .
No one is more upset by your ‘ failures ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own biggest critic .
You ’ re the hardest person to impress .
Go easy on yourself because you know damn well you ’ ve been trying your best .
You know how many hours you ’ ve been putting into your goals .
You know you have nothing to be ashamed about right now .
3 .
Your mental health matters as much as your goals .
You can ’ t allow yourself to get so distracted by what you should ’ ve gotten done by now that you forget to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t move at a fast pace forever .
You ’ re going to have to slow down eventually .
You ’ re going to have to give yourself a well-needed rest .
Otherwise , you ’ re going to burn out .
Remember , you need to be careful about how much you put on your plate at once .
You don ’ t want to harm yourself while you ’ re trying to better yourself .
4 .
You ’ ve overcome every other obstacle you were up against .
The next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have the strength to keep going , remind yourself that you ’ ve pushed through every other hardship you ’ ve faced in the past .
You ’ re a survivor .
You don ’ t give yourself nearly enough credit for that .
So , no , maybe you haven ’ t reached all of your goals yet .
But you accomplished something just as special .
You ’ ve made it until today .
You haven ’ t given up on yourself , even during your lowest point .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re still fighting .
5 .
The most beautiful things in life take time .
You ’ re not going to reach your dreams overnight .
You have to stay patient .
You have to keep putting in the effort , even when it feels like you aren ’ t making any progress .
Remember , just because you feel like you are stuck in the same place doesn ’ t mean that ’ s the truth .
Even baby steps matter .
6 .
You ’ ve come so much further than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you haven ’ t accomplished much in the last few days or weeks or years .
But if you really stop to think about it , you ’ ve completely changed .
You aren ’ t the same person you were yesterday .
Maybe your paycheck didn ’ t grow as much as you ’ d hoped — but maybe your social circle has grown .
Or your confidence .
Or the amount of self-love you provide .
Maybe you ’ re successful in ways that are much harder to measure .

1. You don’t have to stick to a specific timeline. When you were a teenager, you probably had a good idea of where you wanted to be when you were twenty-five or thirty, but the younger version of yourself had no idea what life was going to put you through. You’ve faced more hardships than you could’ve imagined and you’ve conquered more demons than you ever thought possible. You shouldn’t feel like you’ve disappointed yourself — or anyone around you. Remember, you don’t have to meet your goals by a specific age. You have more time. You shouldn’t feel like a failure, simply because success is taking longer than you originally thought.
2. You’re the only one beating yourself up about this. It’s good you’re taking responsibility for your actions. It’s good you’re putting in the effort to reach your goals. But remember, everyone makes mistakes. No one is more upset by your ‘failures’ than you are. You’re your own biggest critic. You’re the hardest person to impress. Go easy on yourself because you know damn well you’ve been trying your best. You know how many hours you’ve been putting into your goals. You know you have nothing to be ashamed about right now.
3. Your mental health matters as much as your goals. You can’t allow yourself to get so distracted by what you should’ve gotten done by now that you forget to take a breather. You can’t move at a fast pace forever. You’re going to have to slow down eventually. You’re going to have to give yourself a well-needed rest. Otherwise, you’re going to burn out. Remember, you need to be careful about how much you put on your plate at once. You don’t want to harm yourself while you’re trying to better yourself.
4. You’ve overcome every other obstacle you were up against. The next time you’re unsure about whether you have the strength to keep going, remind yourself that you’ve pushed through every other hardship you’ve faced in the past. You’re a survivor. You don’t give yourself nearly enough credit for that. So, no, maybe you haven’t reached all of your goals yet. But you accomplished something just as special. You’ve made it until today. You haven’t given up on yourself, even during your lowest point. You’re still here. You’re still fighting.
5. The most beautiful things in life take time. You’re not going to reach your dreams overnight. You have to stay patient. You have to keep putting in the effort, even when it feels like you aren’t making any progress. Remember, just because you feel like you are stuck in the same place doesn’t mean that’s the truth. Even baby steps matter.
6. You’ve come so much further than you realize. You might feel like you haven’t accomplished much in the last few days or weeks or years. But if you really stop to think about it, you’ve completely changed. You aren’t the same person you were yesterday. Maybe your paycheck didn’t grow as much as you’d hoped — but maybe your social circle has grown. Or your confidence. Or the amount of self-love you provide. Maybe you’re successful in ways that are much harder to measure.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-19--Why Each Zodiac Sign Will Pull Away, Even When They Like You

They don ’ t want to get attached to someone .
They love being independent — and want to stay that way .
They hate change .
The thought of getting into a relationship scares them because they like the way things are now .
They ’ re trying to protect their heart .
They don ’ t want to get hurt by you .
They ’ re worried they aren ’ t good enough for you .
They ’ re walking away to save you the trouble .
They recognize how flawed they are .
They ’ re worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They feel like they ’ re perfectly fine on their own .
They don ’ t need the stress a relationship brings .
They ’ ve had bad experiences in the past .
They ’ re worried history will repeat itself .
They suck at reading signals .
They have no idea you ’ re interested and are worried about being rejected .
They don ’ t want to be tied down .
They want to keep their options open .
They ’ re in denial about how much they like you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth .
They ’ re cautious when it comes to love .
They don ’ t want to move too quickly and end up in a bad situation .
They ’ re scared of how much they care about you .
They ’ re scared to let you in .

Aries
They don’t want to get attached to someone. They love being independent — and want to stay that way.
Taurus
They hate change. The thought of getting into a relationship scares them because they like the way things are now.
Gemini
They’re trying to protect their heart. They don’t want to get hurt by you.
Cancer
They’re worried they aren’t good enough for you. They’re walking away to save you the trouble.
For the person who is always googling astrological compatibility when they meet someone new. How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on. Buy now
Leo
They recognize how flawed they are. They’re worried they’re going to hurt you.
Virgo
They feel like they’re perfectly fine on their own. They don’t need the stress a relationship brings.
Libra
They’ve had bad experiences in the past. They’re worried history will repeat itself.
Scorpio
They suck at reading signals. They have no idea you’re interested and are worried about being rejected.
Sagittarius
They don’t want to be tied down. They want to keep their options open.
Capricorn
They’re in denial about how much they like you. They are too stubborn to see the truth.
Aquarius
They’re cautious when it comes to love. They don’t want to move too quickly and end up in a bad situation.
Pisces
They’re scared of how much they care about you. They’re scared to let you in.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-19--9 Creepy Bombshells That Have Come Out Of The Golden State Killer Proceedings

For decades a single man terrorized the state of California .
Up and down the coast he was known in one area as the Visalia Ransacker , in another as the East Area Rapist , and in another as the Original Nightstalker .
One crime writer , Michelle McNamara , posited that these three boogeymen were all one person , she called him the Golden State Killer .
Just a few months after her book on the serial killer and rapist , I ’ ll be Gone in the Dark , was published , the identity of the Golden State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an ancestry website .
Joseph James Deangelo , a 74-year-old former police officer , was arrested and has been charged with the crimes he committed .
He is thought to be responsible for 13 murders , 50 rapes , and 120 burglaries .
He also had a habit of calling his previous victims and continuing to terrorize them : Since Joseph James Deangelo has been in custody , he ’ s presented himself as a feeble old man who can barely stand out of his wheelchair or support the weight of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if perhaps he is experiencing dementia in his old age .
However , the week before his arrest while the police were surveilling him they saw Deangelo racing his motorcycle down the freeway , doing heavy lifting outside his home , and jumping in and out of his truck .
On June 29 , 2020 he plead guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder as part of a plea bargain to avoid the death penalty .
In August 2020 Joseph James DeAngelo sat and listened to his victims read statements about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows is a list of new information we ’ ve gotten from the court proceedings : Years ago the East Area Rapist cases and the Original Nightstalker were linked through DNA evidence .
Most people then referred the this killer as “ EARONS ” .
However , some people familiar with the case also liked EARONS as the suspect for the Visalia ransackings .
It was never confirmed these were all the same person until Joseph James DeAngelo plead guilty to murdering Claude Snelling , a victim of the Visalia Ransacker .
DeAngelo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Katie Maggiore , a couple who were gunned down while walking their dog .
This case was not definitively linked to either the Visalia ransackings or the EARONS crimes , though some people wondered since it was in the area of many EARONS attacks .
The couple may have confronted DeAngelo while he was prowling or peeping .
One of the most notable things about Joseph James Deangelo is that like many other serial killers , he tried to be a cop ( with varying degrees of success ) .
From 1973-1976 Deangelo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit in Exeter , CA , a small town near Visalia .
From 1976 until 1979 he worked as a police officer in Auburn , another small town near Visalia .
In 1979 he was arrested for stealing a hammer and dog repellent and fired from the police department .
He eventually began a new career as a truck mechanic .
What ’ s more frightening , he was actually on-duty as a police officer at the time he committed at least one of his crimes .
One victim statement read in court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer at the Auburn Police Department , DeAngelo parked in a church parking lot and then proceeded on foot to the victim ’ s house and assaulted the couple living there .
The victim said that the Auburn Police Department has not cooperated with him in trying to match crimes to times that DeAngelo was on duty .
This is a common tactic police use to cover up actions of fellow police officers .
This is called the Blue Wall of Silence .
If you want to hear this victim ’ s story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact statement here , around the 46 minute mark : One victim remembers laying quietly as her attacker sat in the corner after assaulting her and crying about someone named “ Bonnie ” .
It is now known that he was referring to Bonnie Jean Colwell , a woman he was in a relationship with in 1970 at Sierra College .
Bonnie has since given an interview to the LA Times about her relationship with DeAngelo : She also appears in HBO ’ s Golden State Killer documentary based around the book I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Michelle McNamara : Like many other evil men when they get caught , since being arrested Joseph James DeAngelo has feigned being old and feeble .
He suddenly needs a wheelchair , has a limp , and appears out of it and unable to focus on what is being said to him .
Not only does this contrast with the condition investigators observed him in prior to his arrest , it doesn ’ t match up with his behavior when the cameras are off and he ’ s in jail .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that he has been masturbating to the female guards — managing to continue to be a sex predator while behind bars .
Prosecutors wanted to show videos in court in order to demonstrate that DeAngelo is in fact acting when it comes to his perceived vulnerability , but the judge did not allow it .
What the people who knew him say Joseph James Deangelo ’ s brother-in-law says he would steer the conversation towards the East Area Rapist when the killer was in the news .
One neighbor said Deangelo left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would “ deliver a load of death ” to the neighbor because his dog was barking too much .
His ex-fiance ( the infamous Bonnie ) said that sex with DeAngelo was painful and exhausting .
He would wordlessly exist the room when he neared orgasm , only to return and continue having sex with her a few minutes later .
She said Joe was a poacher , a thrill-seeker and an illegal hunter .
After they broke up in 1971 , DeAngelo showed up outside Bonnie ’ s bedroom one night with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were home and her father got a gun only to discover DeAngelo was already gone .
A call from Bonnie ’ s father to the police at this point could have saved lives as it would have prevented him from becoming a police officer .

For decades a single man terrorized the state of California. Up and down the coast he was known in one area as the Visalia Ransacker, in another as the East Area Rapist, and in another as the Original Nightstalker. One crime writer, Michelle McNamara, posited that these three boogeymen were all one person, she called him the Golden State Killer. Just a few months after her book on the serial killer and rapist, I’ll be Gone in the Dark, was published, the identity of the Golden State Killer was discovered by uploading his DNA to an ancestry website. Joseph James Deangelo, a 74-year-old former police officer, was arrested and has been charged with the crimes he committed. He is thought to be responsible for 13 murders, 50 rapes, and 120 burglaries. He also had a habit of calling his previous victims and continuing to terrorize them:
Since Joseph James Deangelo has been in custody, he’s presented himself as a feeble old man who can barely stand out of his wheelchair or support the weight of his own head. He feigns incompetence, as if perhaps he is experiencing dementia in his old age. However, the week before his arrest while the police were surveilling him they saw Deangelo racing his motorcycle down the freeway, doing heavy lifting outside his home, and jumping in and out of his truck. On June 29, 2020 he plead guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder as part of a plea bargain to avoid the death penalty. In August 2020 Joseph James DeAngelo sat and listened to his victims read statements about how he has impacted their lives. What follows is a list of new information we’ve gotten from the court proceedings:
The Visalia Ransacker WAS EARONS
Years ago the East Area Rapist cases and the Original Nightstalker were linked through DNA evidence. Most people then referred the this killer as “EARONS”. However, some people familiar with the case also liked EARONS as the suspect for the Visalia ransackings. It was never confirmed these were all the same person until Joseph James DeAngelo plead guilty to murdering Claude Snelling, a victim of the Visalia Ransacker.
More murders
DeAngelo also plead guilt to killing Brian and Katie Maggiore, a couple who were gunned down while walking their dog. This case was not definitively linked to either the Visalia ransackings or the EARONS crimes, though some people wondered since it was in the area of many EARONS attacks. The couple may have confronted DeAngelo while he was prowling or peeping.
Killer cop
One of the most notable things about Joseph James Deangelo is that like many other serial killers, he tried to be a cop (with varying degrees of success).
From 1973-1976 Deangelo was a police officer in the burglary unit in Exeter, CA, a small town near Visalia. From 1976 until 1979 he worked as a police officer in Auburn, another small town near Visalia. In 1979 he was arrested for stealing a hammer and dog repellent and fired from the police department. He eventually began a new career as a truck mechanic.
What’s more frightening, he was actually on-duty as a police officer at the time he committed at least one of his crimes. One victim statement read in court revealed that while DeAngelo was an on-duty officer at the Auburn Police Department, DeAngelo parked in a church parking lot and then proceeded on foot to the victim’s house and assaulted the couple living there. The victim said that the Auburn Police Department has not cooperated with him in trying to match crimes to times that DeAngelo was on duty. This is a common tactic police use to cover up actions of fellow police officers. This is called the Blue Wall of Silence.
If you want to hear this victim’s story, you can watch him read his impact statement here, around the 46 minute mark:
The identity of “Bonnie”
One victim remembers laying quietly as her attacker sat in the corner after assaulting her and crying about someone named “Bonnie”. It is now known that he was referring to Bonnie Jean Colwell, a woman he was in a relationship with in 1970 at Sierra College.
Bonnie has since given an interview to the LA Times about her relationship with DeAngelo:
She also appears in HBO’s Golden State Killer documentary based around the book I’ll be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara:
DeAngelo’s unhinged “feeble old man” performance is a farce
Like many other evil men when they get caught, since being arrested Joseph James DeAngelo has feigned being old and feeble. He suddenly needs a wheelchair, has a limp, and appears out of it and unable to focus on what is being said to him.
Not only does this contrast with the condition investigators observed him in prior to his arrest, it doesn’t match up with his behavior when the cameras are off and he’s in jail. One complaint about DeAngelo’s jail time is that he has been masturbating to the female guards — managing to continue to be a sex predator while behind bars. Prosecutors wanted to show videos in court in order to demonstrate that DeAngelo is in fact acting when it comes to his perceived vulnerability, but the judge did not allow it.
What the people who knew him say
Joseph James Deangelo’s brother-in-law says he would steer the conversation towards the East Area Rapist when the killer was in the news.
One neighbor said Deangelo left him a threatening voicemail about how he would “deliver a load of death” to the neighbor because his dog was barking too much.
His ex-fiance (the infamous Bonnie) said that sex with DeAngelo was painful and exhausting. He would wordlessly exist the room when he neared orgasm, only to return and continue having sex with her a few minutes later. She said Joe was a poacher, a thrill-seeker and an illegal hunter. After they broke up in 1971, DeAngelo showed up outside Bonnie’s bedroom one night with a gun. Bonnie’s parents were home and her father got a gun only to discover DeAngelo was already gone. A call from Bonnie’s father to the police at this point could have saved lives as it would have prevented him from becoming a police officer.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-19--If You’re Not Careful, She’ll Grow To Resent These 9 Things

1 .
Putting her through heartache .
Maybe you don ’ t want to put a label on your relationship or maybe you ’ re stuck between her and some other girl .
No matter what the case may be , if you ’ re serious about her , stop putting her through pain .
She might like you enough to stick around for now , but it doesn ’ t mean what you ’ re doing is right .
And it doesn ’ t mean she ’ s going to forget it anytime soon .
2 .
Expecting her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date night .
Every once in a while , you should take the lead .
You should take initiative .
Pick the time to meet up .
Pick the movie .
Pick the restaurant .
Take some stress off her shoulders .
Show her you ’ ve been paying attention to what she wants .
Whisk her away on the perfect date .
3 .
Taking from her without even thanking her .
Don ’ t assume she knows how you feel .
You have to say it out loud .
She deserves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show her that you appreciate everything she does .
Otherwise , she ’ s going to start feeling like you ’ re taking advantage of her soft heart .
4 .
Not being there for her when she needs you the most .
She might not want to bother you when she ’ s upset .
She might tell you it ’ s fine to leave her crying in the bathroom to go hang out with your friends .
But if you choose other people over her , she ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurt her .
And she ’ s going to resent you .
5 .
Making decisions without consulting her .
You ’ re supposed to be a team .
You ’ re supposed to respect her opinions .
You ’ re supposed to discuss important decisions with her .
If you never take her feelings into consideration before you act , she ’ s going to start questioning how much you actually care .
6 .
Putting zero effort into your appearance .
If she spends hours shaving , doing her makeup , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the perfect outfit , then she ’ s going to be a little annoyed if you show up for a date without even showering .
It ’ s not actually about the way you look .
It ’ s about how much effort you ’ re putting in to impress her .
7 .
Not helping her with any of the chores .
Expecting her to handle the bulk of the work is completely unfair .
Your relationship should be balanced .
You should be putting just as much effort into the household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t your maid .
You ’ re partners .
You ’ re in this together .
8 .
Wasting too much money .
One of the biggest issues serious couples fight about is their finances .
If you ’ re trying to save for a house or are planning on putting money in the bank for your children , she ’ s not going to be happy if you spend hundreds at the bar or casino every weekend .
She ’ s going to wish you behaved more responsibly .
9 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserves to orgasm , too .
If you refuse to go down on her or fall asleep as soon as you ’ re finished without bothering to take her own pleasure into consideration , she ’ s going to get fed up .
Eventually , she ’ s going to get tired of riding you when she gets nothing in return .

1. Putting her through heartache. Maybe you don’t want to put a label on your relationship or maybe you’re stuck between her and some other girl. No matter what the case may be, if you’re serious about her, stop putting her through pain. She might like you enough to stick around for now, but it doesn’t mean what you’re doing is right. And it doesn’t mean she’s going to forget it anytime soon.
2. Expecting her to initiate every conversation and plan every date night. Every once in a while, you should take the lead. You should take initiative. Pick the time to meet up. Pick the movie. Pick the restaurant. Take some stress off her shoulders. Show her you’ve been paying attention to what she wants. Whisk her away on the perfect date.
3. Taking from her without even thanking her. Don’t assume she knows how you feel. You have to say it out loud. She deserves to hear it. Make sure you show her that you appreciate everything she does. Otherwise, she’s going to start feeling like you’re taking advantage of her soft heart.
4. Not being there for her when she needs you the most. She might not want to bother you when she’s upset. She might tell you it’s fine to leave her crying in the bathroom to go hang out with your friends. But if you choose other people over her, she’s going to notice. It’s going to hurt her. And she’s going to resent you.
5. Making decisions without consulting her. You’re supposed to be a team. You’re supposed to respect her opinions. You’re supposed to discuss important decisions with her. If you never take her feelings into consideration before you act, she’s going to start questioning how much you actually care.
6. Putting zero effort into your appearance. If she spends hours shaving, doing her makeup, doing her hair, and picking out the perfect outfit, then she’s going to be a little annoyed if you show up for a date without even showering. It’s not actually about the way you look. It’s about how much effort you’re putting in to impress her.
7. Not helping her with any of the chores. Expecting her to handle the bulk of the work is completely unfair. Your relationship should be balanced. You should be putting just as much effort into the household chores as she does. She isn’t your maid. You’re partners. You’re in this together.
8. Wasting too much money. One of the biggest issues serious couples fight about is their finances. If you’re trying to save for a house or are planning on putting money in the bank for your children, she’s not going to be happy if you spend hundreds at the bar or casino every weekend. She’s going to wish you behaved more responsibly.
9. Neglecting her in the bedroom. She deserves to orgasm, too. If you refuse to go down on her or fall asleep as soon as you’re finished without bothering to take her own pleasure into consideration, she’s going to get fed up. Eventually, she’s going to get tired of riding you when she gets nothing in return.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-19--The 30 Sexiest Skills For A Man To Have, According To Real Women

1 .
Active listening skills .
Hearing me and understanding me is not the same thing as responding in a way that makes me FEEL heard and understood .
2 .
Grocery shopping .
Not just the literal going to the store and putting things in the cart , but coming up with a meal plan for the week of a variety of well-balanced meals and getting it all .
The mental load is real y ’ all .
3 .
Being able to take care of someone who ’ s under the weather .
It ’ s a role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so a lot of guys don ’ t get the chance to learn .
I never realized how much I ’ d appreciate a man who could hold my hair out of my face while I puked , then kiss me when I felt better until it happened .
4 .
I love it when men are able to genuinely and unashamedly express when they think something is cute .
I feel like it ’ s really common to see women squealing and getting really excited over , say , a puppy or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but men are kind of expected to not be affected by cuteness or not show it ?
5 .
Braiding hair !
!
My ex could to it and it was so cool .
Especially since he could French braid and it ’ s so exhausting to do those yourself sometimes .
6 .
Baking , cooking , sewing ( even just mending a button or hemming in clothing ) , and general housekeeping .
Essentially having basic life skills that prove you are an adult able to fend for yourself and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother in a partner .
7 .
Standing up to others ( particularly mates ) who are being assholes .
Having a strong moral compass , empathy and selflessness is seriously sexy .
8 .
Playing an instrument !
But honestly , if they are passionate about something : whether it ’ s art or coding or reading books , it ’ s all a major booster .
It shows that they can be dedicated to something and that ’ s really attractive IMO .
9 .
Dancing .
A man who can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of interest from women .
If a woman is watching a man dance , odds are she is dancing as well .
So those feel-good post-workout tingles also work in the guy ’ s favor .
A guy who can dance well is also basically giving an indication of how he would operate in the bedroom .
It shows confidence and it tends to insinuate wealth ( since dancing is not a survival skill ) .
Also given that so few men dance , and even fewer dance well , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s favor more often than not .
10 .
Financial sense , and ( sensible ) frugality .
A guy who knows how to budget properly , make savings projects , and reduce spending while still living his best life is usually also 1 ) intelligent , 2 ) good at planning ahead and thinking of the future , and 3 ) has a whole slew of related skillsets like basic home repair , cooking , cleaning , yard work , shopping , etc .
( All things I expect us to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never going to be the sole house-manager ever again , and I would never ask someone else to take on that role alone ) .
Granted , I ’ m a long-haul kind of person .
The criteria for spotting an attractive person across the room for the first time is more what you might expect : physical attractiveness and their personality in conversation .
11 .
Does the ability to be self-aware count ?
It ’ s attractive when a guy owns his flaws rather than denying them or being hypocritical in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Flexibility .
There are many flexible women but for men it ’ s pretty rare and harder to achieve , so that makes it really cool and attractive IMO .
13 .
Being clean .
When you go to a guy ’ s apartment and don ’ t feel completely disgusted , but actually pleasantly surprised by how clean it is .
Hot .
14 .
Public speaking .
A skilled public speaker shows confidence , skill , the ability to influence her peers and there is a knowledge base of some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some subject ) .
It ’ s an opportunity to show humor , quick thinking , and vulnerability .
15 .
Being able to take constructive correction without taking it personally .
I ’ m not trying to tell you you aren ’ t good .
I ’ m just trying to help you take the next step .
You want to serve me ?
This is how .
• Hey when you load the laundry can you put my bras in a bag and not put them in the dryer ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letting me rant to you .
• Hey that thing you did to my breasts last night ?
Amazing .
Suck my clit at the same time and I ’ m golden .
16 .
Being able to competently drive a stick shift .
There ’ s just something about it .
17 .
Good memory for details , like remembering what your favorite food is , what things you like… I really love when a guy just knows what I would like without even asking , just paying attention and then using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a guy is good with kids it ’ s attractive as hell .
19 .
Goal-oriented planning and teamwork .
Makes me feel like we can tackle anything together .
20 .
Being able to fix things and build things .
If anything breaks in the house or a car I want a man who can just fix it and not have to hire anyone .
Also the ability to build furniture and whatnot is hot .
21 .
Gardening !
What ’ s not to love about a man who can bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ No babe I do not want some delicious fresh green beans with my dinner ” said no one ever .
23 .
I ’ m an artist so art skills or even just an appreciation for art turns me on .
24 .
I have a weird one : being able to reverse into parking spots effortlessly .
I don ’ t know why , but I melt whenever my boyfriend does this .
He just seems so confident driving backward .
25 .
Being multilingual .
Not just two languages but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 .
Treating fast-food workers and grocery workers with kindness .
Basically treating everyone with respect and kindness .
That is so attractive to me .
27 .
I love seeing a guy be dextrous with his fingers , like playing piano or assembling/painting miniatures .
It shows finesse and patience .
28 .
Being able to give a good massage .
29 .
Storytelling .
A man who can convincingly pretend to be a character he came up with on his own in a roleplay , or can build a world and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tabletop game master .
It demonstrates creativity , thinking outside the box , keeping track of multiple things not related to oneself , and seeing situations from multiple points of view .
30 .
Someone who can care for themselves .
Take a shower , clean up your own mess .
Caring for one another in a relationship is important but some guys mistake this for ‘ I need to find myself another mom.
’ There are so many guys who don ’ t seem to realize this .
I just wanted to @ @ @ @ @

Women from Ask Reddit talk about the hottest skills a man can possess.
1. Active listening skills. Hearing me and understanding me is not the same thing as responding in a way that makes me FEEL heard and understood.
2. Grocery shopping. Not just the literal going to the store and putting things in the cart, but coming up with a meal plan for the week of a variety of well-balanced meals and getting it all. The mental load is real y’all.
3. Being able to take care of someone who’s under the weather. It’s a role that falls to women in most families so a lot of guys don’t get the chance to learn. I never realized how much I’d appreciate a man who could hold my hair out of my face while I puked, then kiss me when I felt better until it happened.
4. I love it when men are able to genuinely and unashamedly express when they think something is cute. I feel like it’s really common to see women squealing and getting really excited over, say, a puppy or a kitten or an adorable cartoon character, but men are kind of expected to not be affected by cuteness or not show it?
5. Braiding hair!! My ex could to it and it was so cool. Especially since he could French braid and it’s so exhausting to do those yourself sometimes.
6. Baking, cooking, sewing (even just mending a button or hemming in clothing), and general housekeeping. Essentially having basic life skills that prove you are an adult able to fend for yourself and aren’t looking for a second mother in a partner.
7. Standing up to others (particularly mates) who are being assholes. Having a strong moral compass, empathy and selflessness is seriously sexy.
8. Playing an instrument! But honestly, if they are passionate about something: whether it’s art or coding or reading books, it’s all a major booster. It shows that they can be dedicated to something and that’s really attractive IMO.
9. Dancing. A man who can dance and do it well will generate a lot of interest from women.
If a woman is watching a man dance, odds are she is dancing as well. So those feel-good post-workout tingles also work in the guy’s favor. A guy who can dance well is also basically giving an indication of how he would operate in the bedroom. It shows confidence and it tends to insinuate wealth (since dancing is not a survival skill). Also given that so few men dance, and even fewer dance well, the numbers will work in a man’s favor more often than not.
10. Financial sense, and (sensible) frugality. A guy who knows how to budget properly, make savings projects, and reduce spending while still living his best life is usually also 1) intelligent, 2) good at planning ahead and thinking of the future, and 3) has a whole slew of related skillsets like basic home repair, cooking, cleaning, yard work, shopping, etc. (All things I expect us to share the responsibility of. I’m never going to be the sole house-manager ever again, and I would never ask someone else to take on that role alone).
Granted, I’m a long-haul kind of person. The criteria for spotting an attractive person across the room for the first time is more what you might expect: physical attractiveness and their personality in conversation.
11. Does the ability to be self-aware count? It’s attractive when a guy owns his flaws rather than denying them or being hypocritical in an attempt to hide them.
12. Flexibility. There are many flexible women but for men it’s pretty rare and harder to achieve, so that makes it really cool and attractive IMO.
13. Being clean. When you go to a guy’s apartment and don’t feel completely disgusted, but actually pleasantly surprised by how clean it is. Hot.
14. Public speaking. A skilled public speaker shows confidence, skill, the ability to influence her peers and there is a knowledge base of some kind (he has to talk about some subject). It’s an opportunity to show humor, quick thinking, and vulnerability.
15. Being able to take constructive correction without taking it personally.
I’m not trying to tell you you aren’t good. I’m just trying to help you take the next step. You want to serve me? This is how.
Examples:
Hey when you load the laundry can you put my bras in a bag and not put them in the dryer?
Hey thanks so much for listening and letting me rant to you.
Hey that thing you did to my breasts last night? Amazing. Suck my clit at the same time and I’m golden.
16. Being able to competently drive a stick shift. There’s just something about it.
17. Good memory for details, like remembering what your favorite food is, what things you like… I really love when a guy just knows what I would like without even asking, just paying attention and then using the new data.
18. If a guy is good with kids it’s attractive as hell.
19. Goal-oriented planning and teamwork. Makes me feel like we can tackle anything together.
20. Being able to fix things and build things. If anything breaks in the house or a car I want a man who can just fix it and not have to hire anyone. Also the ability to build furniture and whatnot is hot.
21. Gardening! What’s not to love about a man who can bring fresh free produce to the table! “No babe I do not want some delicious fresh green beans with my dinner” said no one ever.
22. Good penmanship.
23. I’m an artist so art skills or even just an appreciation for art turns me on.
24. I have a weird one: being able to reverse into parking spots effortlessly. I don’t know why, but I melt whenever my boyfriend does this. He just seems so confident driving backward.
25. Being multilingual. Not just two languages but fluent or conversational in around three.
26. Treating fast-food workers and grocery workers with kindness. Basically treating everyone with respect and kindness. That is so attractive to me.
27. I love seeing a guy be dextrous with his fingers, like playing piano or assembling/painting miniatures. It shows finesse and patience.
28. Being able to give a good massage.
29. Storytelling. A man who can convincingly pretend to be a character he came up with on his own in a roleplay, or can build a world and play multiple NPC’s as a tabletop game master. It demonstrates creativity, thinking outside the box, keeping track of multiple things not related to oneself, and seeing situations from multiple points of view.
30. Someone who can care for themselves. Take a shower, clean up your own mess. Caring for one another in a relationship is important but some guys mistake this for ‘I need to find myself another mom.’ There are so many guys who don’t seem to realize this. I just wanted to get it out there.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-19--When You Love Someone, You Overcome Your Obstacles Together

When you love someone , you don ’ t leave them hanging when they come to you for help .
You don ’ t walk away while they ’ re crying their eyes out .
You don ’ t go MIA until they ’ re feeling better because you only want them around when they ’ re in a fun mood and don ’ t want to deal with them in a rough mood .
When you love someone , you stick with them through the toughest experiences of their life .
You help them in whatever way you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fix whatever is wrong , you can ’ t solve the problem for them — but you can be their shoulder to cry on .
You can be there to listen while they rant .
You can remind them that no matter what happens you ’ re going to be standing by their side .
When you love someone , you can ’ t come around to see them only when it ’ s convenient .
You can ’ t abandon them when they need you the most .
You should act as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your problems .
Their misery should be your misery .
They should never feel like they ’ re going through their hardships alone .
If they ’ re involved in too much drama for you to handle , then leave .
But if you want to be with them , you can ’ t take the good without the bad .
You can ’ t have the highs without the lows .
You need to be there for your partner in the same way they ’ re always there for you .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t always going to be easy .
Sometimes , things aren ’ t going to go the way you planned .
Sometimes , you ’ re going to deal with unexpected circumstances .
Sometimes , you ’ re going to have to grab a box of tissues and have some tough conversations .
Relationships aren ’ t always bouquets and butterflies .
They can be stressful .
They can be complicated .
Life isn ’ t always going to reward you with exactly what you want .
Even the best relationships , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times .
When your partner is going through pain , you can ’ t be pissed at them for not being themselves .
You can ’ t get frustrated over how long it ’ s taking them to snap back .
You can ’ t judge their healing process .
You have to be there for them every step of the way .
You have to give them the space they need and the affection they crave .
Most importantly , you need to keep the lines of communication open .
You might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so you won ’ t be able to guess what is going through their mind .
You won ’ t be able to predict what they need from you .
You need to talk in order to figure out where they stand .
You need to make sure you ’ re on the same page .
When you love someone , you can ’ t stick around for the fun moments and wander away as soon as something real happens .
You can ’ t run away at the first sign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be together , if you believe this person is worth it , then you need to help them through their biggest hurdles .
You need to remind them you ’ ll be there through it all .

When you love someone, you don’t leave them hanging when they come to you for help. You don’t walk away while they’re crying their eyes out. You don’t go MIA until they’re feeling better because you only want them around when they’re in a fun mood and don’t want to deal with them in a rough mood.
When you love someone, you stick with them through the toughest experiences of their life. You help them in whatever way you can.
No, you can’t fix whatever is wrong, you can’t solve the problem for them — but you can be their shoulder to cry on. You can be there to listen while they rant. You can remind them that no matter what happens you’re going to be standing by their side.
When you love someone, you can’t come around to see them only when it’s convenient. You can’t abandon them when they need you the most. You should act as a team. Their problems should be your problems. Their misery should be your misery. They should never feel like they’re going through their hardships alone.
If they’re involved in too much drama for you to handle, then leave. But if you want to be with them, you can’t take the good without the bad. You can’t have the highs without the lows. You need to be there for your partner in the same way they’re always there for you.
When you love someone, it isn’t always going to be easy. Sometimes, things aren’t going to go the way you planned. Sometimes, you’re going to deal with unexpected circumstances. Sometimes, you’re going to have to grab a box of tissues and have some tough conversations.
Relationships aren’t always bouquets and butterflies. They can be stressful. They can be complicated. Life isn’t always going to reward you with exactly what you want. Even the best relationships, and the best people, will experience rough times.
When your partner is going through pain, you can’t be pissed at them for not being themselves. You can’t get frustrated over how long it’s taking them to snap back. You can’t judge their healing process. You have to be there for them every step of the way. You have to give them the space they need and the affection they crave.
Most importantly, you need to keep the lines of communication open. You might handle your problems in completely different ways, so you won’t be able to guess what is going through their mind. You won’t be able to predict what they need from you. You need to talk in order to figure out where they stand. You need to make sure you’re on the same page.
When you love someone, you can’t stick around for the fun moments and wander away as soon as something real happens. You can’t run away at the first sign of trouble.
If you really want to be together, if you believe this person is worth it, then you need to help them through their biggest hurdles. You need to remind them you’ll be there through it all.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-19--6 Bad Habits You Might Have After Leaving A Toxic Relationship

1 .
Snooping through your partner ’ s phone .
You aren ’ t trying to invade their privacy .
You ’ re simply trying to protect your heart .
You want to make sure this person isn ’ t screwing around behind your back because you don ’ t want to waste time on them .
If they ’ re bad for you , you would rather know it right now .
But relationships require trust .
They require you to be open and honest with each other .
You can ’ t be sneaking around , reading their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they say they ’ re never going to hurt you — and if you don ’ t , you need to leave .
2 .
Assuming every disagreement is going to lead to a massive fight .
You might avoid speaking up to them because you don ’ t want to get into an argument .
You might tiptoe around their feelings because you ’ re worried about how they ’ ll react to your opinion .
You might feel like you can ’ t use your voice because there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blowout .
But in a healthy relationship , you can talk about anything .
And you won ’ t always agree .
You ’ re two different people .
You should appreciate your differences .
You shouldn ’ t resent each other for them .
3 .
Assuming every fight is going to lead to a breakup .
Whenever you get into an argument , you might feel like the world is ending .
Like the relationship is over .
Like there ’ s no coming back from what happened .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are willing to put effort into each other , then you ’ re probably going to be okay .
Couples fight .
It happens .
No one is immune to it .
4 .
Keeping score with them .
Your relationship should feel balanced — but you shouldn ’ t be keeping track of every little thing they do for you versus what you do for them .
It shouldn ’ t be a huge deal if you wash the dishes four times this week and they do it three times .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them down and have a conversation about it .
You don ’ t want to grow to resent them over the small things .
You don ’ t want to enter them into a contest they don ’ t even realize they ’ re taking part in .
You don ’ t want your person to take advantage of you — but you don ’ t want to keep a running tally of their chores either .
5 .
Trying your hardest to fix them .
You can ’ t save someone else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else .
You can only control yourself .
You have to stop feeling like it ’ s your responsibility to take their problems on as your own and rescue them from themselves .
Besides , you shouldn ’ t be with someone who needs to change .
You should be with someone you love exactly as they are .
If you need to change them to love them , why are you with them ?
6 .
Keeping your options open .
You might keep dating apps on your phone just in case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s number just in case .
You might have backup plans just in case .
But you can ’ t give someone half your heart .
If you ’ re ready to commit to them , you need to respect them enough to go all in .
Otherwise , let them know you need some more time .
Just don ’ t lead them on .
Don ’ t hurt them in the same ways the last person hurt you .

1. Snooping through your partner’s phone. You aren’t trying to invade their privacy. You’re simply trying to protect your heart. You want to make sure this person isn’t screwing around behind your back because you don’t want to waste time on them. If they’re bad for you, you would rather know it right now. But relationships require trust. They require you to be open and honest with each other. You can’t be sneaking around, reading their messages. You have to believe them when they say they’re never going to hurt you — and if you don’t, you need to leave.
2. Assuming every disagreement is going to lead to a massive fight. You might avoid speaking up to them because you don’t want to get into an argument. You might tiptoe around their feelings because you’re worried about how they’ll react to your opinion. You might feel like you can’t use your voice because there’s a chance it’ll lead to a blowout. But in a healthy relationship, you can talk about anything. And you won’t always agree. You’re two different people. You should appreciate your differences. You shouldn’t resent each other for them.
3. Assuming every fight is going to lead to a breakup. Whenever you get into an argument, you might feel like the world is ending. Like the relationship is over. Like there’s no coming back from what happened. But if you respect each other, and are willing to put effort into each other, then you’re probably going to be okay. Couples fight. It happens. No one is immune to it.
4. Keeping score with them. Your relationship should feel balanced — but you shouldn’t be keeping track of every little thing they do for you versus what you do for them. It shouldn’t be a huge deal if you wash the dishes four times this week and they do it three times. And if it is, you should sit them down and have a conversation about it. You don’t want to grow to resent them over the small things. You don’t want to enter them into a contest they don’t even realize they’re taking part in. You don’t want your person to take advantage of you — but you don’t want to keep a running tally of their chores either.
5. Trying your hardest to fix them. You can’t save someone else. You can’t control someone else. You can only control yourself. You have to stop feeling like it’s your responsibility to take their problems on as your own and rescue them from themselves. Besides, you shouldn’t be with someone who needs to change. You should be with someone you love exactly as they are. If you need to change them to love them, why are you with them?
6. Keeping your options open. You might keep dating apps on your phone just in case. You might keep an old flame’s number just in case. You might have backup plans just in case. But you can’t give someone half your heart. If you’re ready to commit to them, you need to respect them enough to go all in. Otherwise, let them know you need some more time. Just don’t lead them on. Don’t hurt them in the same ways the last person hurt you.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-19--How To Make A Good Woman Stop Trusting You

1 .
Take a long time to text her back .
Make her wonder where you are , why you aren ’ t answering , and when you ’ re coming home .
2 .
Be weird about your phone .
Hide it from her .
Put on a lock screen without telling her the password .
Bring it with you every time you leave the room .
3 .
Be secretive about who you ’ re texting .
When you ’ re smiling or laughing at the screen and she asks who you ’ re talking to , avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who it could possibly be .
4 .
Flirt with other women in front of her .
Check them out .
Comment on how pretty they are .
Make her feel like she ’ s in competition with complete strangers .
5 .
Dodge her question about the future .
Change the topic whenever she starts asking about marriage or children or where you see your relationship heading in the future .
Make her wonder whether you ’ re forever or temporary .
6 .
Don ’ t put a label on your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking to have fun .
Tell her you don ’ t want to ruin the great thing you have by making it serious .
7 .
Keep dating apps on your phone .
Refuse to delete them .
Refuse to make her feel secure in the relationship .
8 .
Continue talking to your exes .
And any other girls who show an interest in you .
See how far you can push boundaries .
See what you can get away with .
9 .
Like scandalous pictures on Instagram .
Comment beneath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s no big deal when she finds out .
10 .
Dress better for work ( or to hang out with friends ) than to hang out with her .
Wear cologne , too .
Make her wonder who you ’ re trying to look nice for while she ’ s stuck at home .
11 .
Refuse to tell her details about your night .
Spend hours out on the town .
When you come home , don ’ t tell her who you were with or what you were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
12 .
Come home smelling like someone else ’ s perfume .
With lipstick marks on you .
And a shitty explanation .
13 .
Tell little white lies .
Lie in order to get yourself out of trouble .
Lie in order to avoid taking responsibility for what you ’ ve done .
14 .
Stop having sex with her .
Don ’ t explain the change in your libido .
Don ’ t explain why you aren ’ t interested in touching her anymore .
Just stop sleeping with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Block her from your social media .
Make sure she can ’ t see who you ’ re talking to online .
Make sure she ’ s unable to call you out on the flirting you ’ ve been doing behind her back .
16 .
Change your schedule out of the blue .
Don ’ t tell her what you ’ re doing on weekends .
Don ’ t tell her why you ’ re suddenly too busy to see her .
Don ’ t explain yourself because you only care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her .
Stop trying to solve your problems .
Stop putting effort into the relationship .
Stop caring about what she thinks of you because you don ’ t really care whether the relationship ends anyway .
18 .
Go MIA .
Ghost her .
Drop out of her life for weeks before returning .
Make it clear that you don ’ t respect her time or her love for you .
19 .
Get paranoid about her cheating — even when she ’ s done nothing wrong .
Shift the blame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you alive .

1. Take a long time to text her back. Make her wonder where you are, why you aren’t answering, and when you’re coming home.
2. Be weird about your phone. Hide it from her. Put on a lock screen without telling her the password. Bring it with you every time you leave the room.
3. Be secretive about who you’re texting. When you’re smiling or laughing at the screen and she asks who you’re talking to, avoid answering the question. Make her wonder who it could possibly be.
4. Flirt with other women in front of her. Check them out. Comment on how pretty they are. Make her feel like she’s in competition with complete strangers.
5. Dodge her question about the future. Change the topic whenever she starts asking about marriage or children or where you see your relationship heading in the future. Make her wonder whether you’re forever or temporary.
6. Don’t put a label on your relationship. Tell her you’re looking to have fun. Tell her you don’t want to ruin the great thing you have by making it serious.
7. Keep dating apps on your phone. Refuse to delete them. Refuse to make her feel secure in the relationship.
8. Continue talking to your exes. And any other girls who show an interest in you. See how far you can push boundaries. See what you can get away with.
9. Like scandalous pictures on Instagram. Comment beneath them. DM them. Act like it’s no big deal when she finds out.
10. Dress better for work (or to hang out with friends) than to hang out with her. Wear cologne, too. Make her wonder who you’re trying to look nice for while she’s stuck at home.
11. Refuse to tell her details about your night. Spend hours out on the town. When you come home, don’t tell her who you were with or what you were doing. Keep your secrets to yourself.
12. Come home smelling like someone else’s perfume. With lipstick marks on you. And a shitty explanation.
13. Tell little white lies. Lie in order to get yourself out of trouble. Lie in order to avoid taking responsibility for what you’ve done.
14. Stop having sex with her. Don’t explain the change in your libido. Don’t explain why you aren’t interested in touching her anymore. Just stop sleeping with her — and holding her hand.
15. Block her from your social media. Make sure she can’t see who you’re talking to online. Make sure she’s unable to call you out on the flirting you’ve been doing behind her back.
16. Change your schedule out of the blue. Don’t tell her what you’re doing on weekends. Don’t tell her why you’re suddenly too busy to see her. Don’t explain yourself because you only care about yourself.
17. Stop arguing with her. Stop trying to solve your problems. Stop putting effort into the relationship. Stop caring about what she thinks of you because you don’t really care whether the relationship ends anyway.
18. Go MIA. Ghost her. Drop out of her life for weeks before returning. Make it clear that you don’t respect her time or her love for you.
19. Get paranoid about her cheating — even when she’s done nothing wrong. Shift the blame onto her. Let your guilt eat you alive.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-19--What Each Zodiac Sign Appreciates About The Single Life

You appreciate the freedom you have to make your own impulsive decisions without consulting anyone else .
You appreciate the chance to spend time with friends who usually fall into the background when you ’ re dating .
You appreciate the extra time you have to dive into your work and chip away at your career goals .
You appreciate the free time you have to spend on yourself now that you don ’ t have to worry about taking care of anyone else .
You appreciate the opportunity to meet — and flirt with — plenty of new people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think and read and listen to music without being bothered .
You appreciate the time you can now dedicate to self-growth and discovery .
You appreciate the connection you have with other singles who only want to have fun .
You appreciate the freedom you have to travel or quit your job or move across the country at a moment ’ s notice .
You appreciate the chance to rest and not be social for a while .
You appreciate the chance to rethink what you want out of life and what means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the limitless possibilities .
There ’ s no telling what ’ s around the corner or where life will take you next .

Aries
You appreciate the freedom you have to make your own impulsive decisions without consulting anyone else.
Taurus
You appreciate the chance to spend time with friends who usually fall into the background when you’re dating.
Gemini
You appreciate the extra time you have to dive into your work and chip away at your career goals.
Cancer
You appreciate the free time you have to spend on yourself now that you don’t have to worry about taking care of anyone else.
For the person who is always googling astrological compatibility when they meet someone new. How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on. Buy now
Leo
You appreciate the opportunity to meet — and flirt with — plenty of new people.
Virgo
You appreciate having time alone to think and read and listen to music without being bothered.
Libra
You appreciate the time you can now dedicate to self-growth and discovery.
Scorpio
You appreciate the connection you have with other singles who only want to have fun.
Sagittarius
You appreciate the freedom you have to travel or quit your job or move across the country at a moment’s notice.
Capricorn
You appreciate the chance to rest and not be social for a while.
Aquarius
You appreciate the chance to rethink what you want out of life and what means the most to you.
Pisces
You appreciate the limitless possibilities. There’s no telling what’s around the corner or where life will take you next.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-20--Why Each Zodiac Sign Is Annoying When They’re In Love

You completely forget about your friends and stop hanging out with them .
You won ’ t shut up about @ @ @ @ @ about them nonstop .
You try to play matchmaker and set up all your friends @ @ @ @ @ found love .
Every story you tell involves your partner .
Their name comes up @ @ @ @ @ start listening to your partner ’ s music and take on their personality .
You @ @ @ @ @ and use mushy pet names .
You stop drinking .
You stop partying .
You @ @ @ @ @ You share way too much information about your sex life .
You bring your partner @ @ @ @ @ .
You never attend parties or events without them .
You stop wanting to leave @ @ @ @ @ want to hang out at home .
You never stop checking your phone , even @ @ @ @ @ with friends .

Aries
You completely forget about your friends and stop hanging out with them.
Taurus
You won’t shut up about your partner. You brag about them nonstop.
Gemini
You try to play matchmaker and set up all your friends now that you’ve found love.
Cancer
Every story you tell involves your partner. Their name comes up in every conversation.
Leo
You spam social media with a million cutesy couple pictures.
Virgo
You start listening to your partner’s music and take on their personality.
Libra
You baby talk with each other and use mushy pet names.
Scorpio
You stop drinking. You stop partying. You stop staying out late.
Sagittarius
You share way too much information about your sex life.
Capricorn
You bring your partner with you everywhere you go. You never attend parties or events without them.
Aquarius
You stop wanting to leave the house. You only want to hang out at home.
Pisces
You never stop checking your phone, even when you’re out with friends.


thoughtcatalog--2020-08-20--If Someone Named ‘LUCY’ Calls You, Don’t Pick Up The Phone

I ’ m not great with electronics .
I know how to use most of them since I grew up around computers and cell phones like every other kid in their twenties — but I still prefer writing with a pen and notepad .
I have a goal tracker inside of my paper planner .
I have a wall calendar where I keep track of my appointments .
I send my bills through the mail instead of sending payments over the internet .
I ’ m old-fashioned .
An old soul .
Born in the wrong generation .
I never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I use my phone for texting .
I use my computer for typing out documents .
I use my smart TV for streaming videos .
If I need a calculator , I grab an actual calculator .
If I need to jot down notes , I grab the pad attached to my refrigerator .
That ’ s why it was so freakishly strange when an alert blared on my phone .
It was a reminder that said : PHONE CALL WITH LUCY AT 6 .
I don ’ t know how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not to mention , I don ’ t know any Lucys .
But I work at a big company .
I know most people by their last names .
I could be completely forgetting about someone .
I didn ’ t want to get fired over something stupid , so I shot off a text to one of my bosses ( who is much more of a social butterfly than me ) .
I asked whether anyone at the company went by that name .
They told me no .
I asked them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today .
No again .
I shrugged off the weirdness and turned my phone to silent .
If my phone was malfunctioning , I didn ’ t want to embarrass myself in the office when it started blaring again .
The workday was normal .
Nothing else weird went down .
But the next day , I received an actual phone call from Lucy .
It was around the same time , six in the morning , right when I was slipping a Poptart into the toaster .
I answered the phone and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No one said a word .
I was forced to hang up because there was nothing on the other side .
No breathing .
No rustling .
No indication of another person .
This time , I asked a few co-workers who had the same type of phone whether or not they had any issues lately .
They each had complaints , but not about the same issues I was experiencing .
A part of me wondered whether I was getting harassed by an ex or old client .
Maybe it wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fucking with me .
The rest of the day went on without a problem .
But the next morning was a Saturday morning .
I have insomnia , so I ’ m always up before the sun , even when my day consists of lounging on the couch eating fruit snacks .
I had the television turned on , binge-watching some cringey dating show since I didn ’ t have a love life of my own .
All of a sudden , the show zipped away .
A video call overtook the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart TV for a video call , but considering this one was from the mysterious Lucy , I picked right up .
I planned to curse her out .
Tell her to stop bothering me .
Put her in her place .
Except , that ’ s not what happened at all .
When I answered it , a man filled the screen .
He was sitting in darkness .
More shadow than human .
I couldn ’ t make out any of the features on his face , but I could see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The type you would buy at the dollar store for a Halloween costume .
It wasn ’ t Lucy .
It was Lucifer .
Rattled , I hung up the call , did a quick Google search , and called the police .
Apparently , there ’ s a man going around cosplaying as the devil to scare women who live alone .
Some people say he ’ s harmless , he ’ s just a troll and a hacker and a lonely old man with nothing better to do with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s dangerous , that he matches the profile of a killer that ’ s never been caught .
I don ’ t really care who he is .
I don ’ t want to find out .
I don ’ t want to see him ever again .
I ’ m just hoping the police do their jobs and protect me .

I’m not great with electronics. I know how to use most of them since I grew up around computers and cell phones like every other kid in their twenties — but I still prefer writing with a pen and notepad. I have a goal tracker inside of my paper planner. I have a wall calendar where I keep track of my appointments. I send my bills through the mail instead of sending payments over the internet. I’m old-fashioned. An old soul. Born in the wrong generation.
I never really use the apps on my electronics. I use my phone for texting. I use my computer for typing out documents. I use my smart TV for streaming videos. If I need a calculator, I grab an actual calculator. If I need to jot down notes, I grab the pad attached to my refrigerator.
That’s why it was so freakishly strange when an alert blared on my phone. It was a reminder that said: PHONE CALL WITH LUCY AT 6.
I don’t know how to set calendar alerts on my phone. Not to mention, I don’t know any Lucys. But I work at a big company. I know most people by their last names. I could be completely forgetting about someone.
I didn’t want to get fired over something stupid, so I shot off a text to one of my bosses (who is much more of a social butterfly than me). I asked whether anyone at the company went by that name. They told me no. I asked them whether I was forgetting about any meeting today. No again.
I shrugged off the weirdness and turned my phone to silent. If my phone was malfunctioning, I didn’t want to embarrass myself in the office when it started blaring again.
The workday was normal. Nothing else weird went down.
But the next day, I received an actual phone call from Lucy. It was around the same time, six in the morning, right when I was slipping a Poptart into the toaster.
I answered the phone and heard static. Like a broken television. No one said a word. I was forced to hang up because there was nothing on the other side. No breathing. No rustling. No indication of another person.
This time, I asked a few co-workers who had the same type of phone whether or not they had any issues lately. They each had complaints, but not about the same issues I was experiencing. A part of me wondered whether I was getting harassed by an ex or old client. Maybe it wasn’t a glitch. Maybe someone was fucking with me.
The rest of the day went on without a problem. But the next morning was a Saturday morning. I have insomnia, so I’m always up before the sun, even when my day consists of lounging on the couch eating fruit snacks.
I had the television turned on, binge-watching some cringey dating show since I didn’t have a love life of my own. All of a sudden, the show zipped away. A video call overtook the screen.
I had never used my smart TV for a video call, but considering this one was from the mysterious Lucy, I picked right up. I planned to curse her out. Tell her to stop bothering me. Put her in her place.
Except, that’s not what happened at all. When I answered it, a man filled the screen. He was sitting in darkness. More shadow than human. I couldn’t make out any of the features on his face, but I could see the outlines of horns on his head. The type you would buy at the dollar store for a Halloween costume.
And I understood.
It wasn’t Lucy. It was Lucifer.
Rattled, I hung up the call, did a quick Google search, and called the police. Apparently, there’s a man going around cosplaying as the devil to scare women who live alone. Some people say he’s harmless, he’s just a troll and a hacker and a lonely old man with nothing better to do with his time. Other people say he’s dangerous, that he matches the profile of a killer that’s never been caught. I don’t really care who he is. I don’t want to find out. I don’t want to see him ever again. I’m just hoping the police do their jobs and protect me.