Had wonderful evening watching the Beatles Tribute Band (Hard Nights Day) last Friday with a date! They were really good and played so many of the best songs! Really grateful for the singalong they made possible! I was able to meet the band before and after the show and actually got to play the bassist Rickenbacker off amp and it felt really good to play! Keep an eye out for them if you’re in the Dallas area

Last night we held our first virtual social event, and the energy in the "room" was amazing! 40 of you showed up, jumped into breakout rooms, and did something that's surprisingly rare these days — you had real, honest, low-pressure conversations with other people who are in the same boat and who *get it.* Here's what you told me you loved most: 💬 "Everyone seemed so genuine." 💬 "Open and honest discussion among courteous, empathetic individuals." 💬 "It was refreshing to meet virtually and know that all attendees are single." 💬 "Conversations with others going through similar dating issues — not feeling so alone." 💬 "Such a nice, friendly, low-pressure bunch of people." 80% of you said that you would definitely attend again ( 95% if I count the maybes), and 90% of you said you would recommend it to a friend! I consider that a huge win for a first-time event! What struck me reading your feedback was this theme: you came to meet people, and you actually did. Participants were from across the country, all navigating similar landscapes, all showing up vulnerably and authentically. Thank you for keeping an open mind and for tolerating the technical issues - so much great learning from this event that will make the next one that much better! PLUS, most importantly, based on the matching form, I see how much interest there is in deepening the friendships and connections! And yes — we're doing this again. 🙌 Not sure when, but I'll keep you posted! Thank you for showing up, being open, and making this community feel like exactly what it's supposed to be.

Because we don’t celebrate them enough. Most people think a “win” in dating is: Finding the person -- getting into a relationship -- having it all work out perfectly. But that’s not how this actually works. Real wins in dating look like this: - You don’t take someone’s inconsistency personally - You stop chasing mixed signals - You stay grounded instead of spiraling - You walk away from what’s not aligned - You keep showing up… even when it’s frustrating Because those are the things that actually lead you to the right person. And then sometimes… when you least expect it… something just clicks. One of the women in my community, Lynne, shared something this week that I loved. After months of frustration, dead-end conversations, and almost giving up on the apps altogether… she logged into FB Dating one more time. No expectations. No pressure. Just going through the motions. And that’s when she matched with someone. What happened next? - He was open and forthcoming from the start - He followed through and made a plan quickly - Their first date lasted 5 hours - They’ve continued seeing each other—with ease, consistency, and mutual interest No overthinking. No guessing. No drama. Just… curiosity and connection. Now here’s the most important part: Lynne isn’t rushing. She’s not trying to make this “the one.” She’s simply asking: Do I want to keep seeing him? That’s what emotionally healthy dating looks like. So if you’re feeling discouraged right now, hear this: - It only takes one aligned connection - You don’t know when it’s going to happen - And every “non-match” is actually refining you Your job isn’t to force the outcome. Your job is to: - stay in the game - stay aligned with yourself - and recognize the difference when something real shows up Because when it does…It won’t feel confusing. It will feel easy. Watch a short video with Lynne's story and share any thoughts below.

As I write this Wednesday Wisdom, I want to pause and acknowledge you—this incredible community who keeps showing up, even when it isn’t easy. I want to acknowledge you for staying open to love, connection, and growth—especially after years of being single. That takes courage. It’s not easy to keep believing when you’ve tried, dated, hoped, and been disappointed more than once. I want to acknowledge you for continuing to put yourself out there. Whether that meant online dating, coming to events, having brave conversations, or simply saying “yes” when part of you wanted to stay home, you showed up. I want to acknowledge you for the impact you’ve had on others in this community. A kind word, a shared story, a knowing smile, these things matter more than you realize. I want to acknowledge you for trying something new this year. Joining a new community. Dating again. Healing old patterns. Setting boundaries. Choosing differently. Any new step risks rejection, but you did it anyway. That’s powerful. I want to acknowledge you for letting go of something—or someone—that no longer served you. Old relationships, old beliefs, old versions of yourself. That kind of release takes bravery and self-respect. I want to acknowledge you for betting on yourself. For deciding that you are worth love, companionship, joy, and fulfillment—at any age. I want to acknowledge your uniqueness. Being fully you is not a liability in dating—it’s the whole point. I want to acknowledge that this chapter of life can be challenging. Navigating love, independence, loss, hope, and reinvention is real work. There is no “right” timeline, only the one that feels aligned for you. And finally, I want to acknowledge you for making it through 2025 with your sanity intact. It was a challenging year for many, emotionally, personally, and relationally. You’re still here. Still growing. Still open to possibility. I’m proud of you. And I’m grateful to walk this journey with you. 💛 Dessi

Most people wait until they "succeed" to celebrate. That's the problem. Success isn't a finish line. It's a pattern of behavior - taking small actions that in time lead to a big result. If you only celebrate outcomes, you're training yourself to ignore the thing that actually matters most: showing up every day in small ways. So today, I want you to acknowledge one win from this week. Not a result. An action. Every time you celebrate the right actions, you're rewiring your brain to associate dating with progress. So drop a comment below and share: "A win I'm celebrating this week is…" It can be big. It can be tiny. It just has to be something you did.