Thoughts on Online Dating

Oh the perils of online dating... 

There are so many aspects to consider: your profile picture, dating profile and your matches. Essentially... who wins in this first impression game? Personally I've only dabbled in the basic Tinder and OKCupid. At the moment, my heart isn't particularly in the online dating scene. Though I must admit, I do re-download for the occasional ego boost or slight alleviation of my boredom. But here are just some personal thoughts on online dating...

Being terribly unphotogenic, I've never been able to create a profile very reflective of my appearance. And when I do, after an appearance change (cutting hair, getting braces, etc.) I always had to find new pictures... urgh. Another annoying part about uploading photos was that there's always that need to upload more than one. However, this is more of a personal opinion as I feel if there's only one photo uploaded, it reflects that the person actually looks worse in real life. I mean since there's only one good photo of him/her? EXTREMELY SUPERFICIAL (I know...) but hey, it's a looks-driven site. What to do?

Next is the bio segment. This part is especially tricky. There's a fine line between that aura of mystery and just plain boring. How do I accurately express 'WHO AM I' in words? Additionally, another taxing part is not knowing what to write. Your bio needs to be able to capture your readers attention, to make them feel that I want to know him/her more. And usually without the right personality, one would fall pretty flat in attracting this sort of attention. Moreover, there are certain turn ons and offs, depending on which type you're looking for.

Lastly, there's the matching. The last hurdle to cross. The final turn to swerve. You've done you're part in creating your 'date-able self' and now it's time to see others. I have many male friends who just swipe right, to see what 'fish' they catch and choose from there. While others slowly pick and choose which girl/guy they want. Honestly, I'm leaning more towards the latter. Many people match based on looks, but I feel it's always important to analyse a profile. If you're looking at looks solely, that's easy. Just check if there's more than one picture, whether they put a lot of effort in looking good and whether they used a snapchat filter. YES, NO, NO? Well... then they are probably above average in real life. On the other hand, if you want a better glimpse into personality, that's pretty hard because it's up to the writer on how much they want you to know. But a general rule I've realised is that usually those who write more down-to-earth aspects about themselves, tend to be looking for something more serious. I know, it's common sense and everyone knows it. But I mean it. It's not just their likes or dislikes that they write about. It's whether they show their personality in what they write. Because we are more than what we like or dislike, we are our feelings, thoughts and ideas.

To encapsulate it all, dating is just a tricky thing. Whether it's online or real life. We will all find it difficult but in the end it all come down to one thing... LUCK. So hey, just play the game, have some fun but when you find the right person, they will be right in every way. And for now maybe it's just time to throw caution to the wind, try your luck, and you never know... you might just hit the jackpot.

What To Do After Getting Played?

I've always taken that leap of faith when it came to relationships.

Will it work out? Will it not work out? Will it work out but soon fail?

In the end, nobody really knows unless we try it out for ourselves. Grasping that uncertainty, we close our eyes, hold our breaths and dive into our unknown fate. With great risks, lies greater rewards as well as even greater consequences. So what happens, when we end up facing these consequences of getting played?

Honestly, it's hard to know that all you are left with is the empty promises, transient memories and the thought of 'what could have been'. After investing your time and emotion into believing something, it's natural to feel shortchanged with things don't work out. And at the end of the day, you realise no amount of complaining, ranting or crying makes you feel better. And you ask yourself,

Why like this? Why now? Why me?

Personally, I always thought the worst part was that nothing could make me feel better. I though closure was all I needed but in the end the only closure I needed was from myself. The closure that everything really is over and is but a short page in the story of my life. The closure is really in knowing that I am ready for my next, more exciting chapter. So what to do reach this point?

All it takes is letting go and waiting.

Easier said than done, I know. We've all been there. Feeling that you've finally let go but then you scroll through your movies and see that movie y'all wanted to watch together or pass by that spot that y'all always met at, and BAM everything just floods back. The key thing to note for this, is that you can never let it all go. Because when you get involved in something, you're giving a little piece of yourself to them an it's something you'll never be able to take back. So yes. You can let go of the expectations, spitefulness and the thought that he/she was different from the rest. I mean after all what's done can't be undone. But in the end, you can't totally forget that that person was very much a part of your life. A part that made you smile at a simple text or laugh till your sides hurt. Keep that. Keep the thoughts that you felt that way once, and can feel it again but with the right person. Keep the memories of how everything started to unravel, and use it next time to your advantage. Learn not to get played again. Learn how to spot the player.

Essentially, all I am saying is forgive. Hating won't make anyone feel better. Just forgive and let go. But keep what you have learnt from this relationship and don't let it happen again. Hence, you wouldn't have wasted your time. Because you come out knowing you have improved yourself. You come out a better and improved version of yourself. And that itself is something worthwhile.

Lastly, just wait. Wait for the feelings to pass, so much so it is but a distant memory. Wait for the right person to come, he/she will come one day. Just don't rush or force anything because if something is yours, it'll be yours. Be a better person today, start a new hobby or focus on something you enjoy and wait.

Because you'll know when the right person comes, he/she was worth the wait.

Honest Browhaus Review

Hi, so I just wanted to type out some of my thoughts on Browhaus and in particular, their customer service. I've been going to Browhaus for a simple thread and tweeze. Overall my brows have never looked better, like they're nice and well kempt now as you can see. Not that have much brow hair to begin with lol. And I'm sorry but this is the best photo I can get! But either way it's just neater than before but thinner.

Anyways the pain is bearable, though kind of makes me tear just a little bit each time they do my brows. One time I got them threaded and the skin around my brows were kind of red and bumpy. It felt really sore but my brows were nice so I dealt with so it wasn't too bad. However after my first threading session, the counter staff recommended a package for $224 for 13 sessions. So basically a threading session would be $18ish instead of the usual $24, plus with a free session thrown in. And so my friend and I agreed and got the package.

Next time I went to get my brows done, the lady doing my brows kept pushing a brow resurrection package on me. Obviously since I'm still a student, $1200++ is no easy sum to spend, but the lady kept insisting that I should get it done. And omg the manipulation was unbearable...

LADY: You're quite pretty, but too bad your brows are too thin. You should opt for the brow resurrection package then you'll be really pretty!
ME: Awww thanks! But I don't think I can spend so much (HAHA I'M SO STUPID T.T)
LADY: Oh it's okay alot of students sign up for it! There's a student promotion so it'll be $678 including GST.
ME: Oh no it's okay
LADY: I can help you ask but maybe it won't be there for long!
ME: Oh okay can you help me ask???

Yea.... Hook, Line & Sinker

I'm such an idiot and my friend was like 'no don't get it, they always push packages down us'. And get this, just after she said that, the counter staff offered to waive off GST. Like what? Can they even do that? But I was already caught, and so I forked out $200 as a deposit to secure the promotion!!! Ahhh... I'm so easily influenced. Anyways so I went home and did some research on Browhaus  by searching Browhaus reviews and Brow Ressurection Reviews. AND SURPRISE SURPRISE, THEY ARE ALL GOOD REVIEWS!

***THEY ARE ALL SPONSORED***

I scrolled through 3 pages and majority, if not all, were sponsored. Basically saying that the package is amazing and it worked wonders for them. I mean it may be true, but the thing that made me doubt these sponsored reviews is that they have NO mention of the aftercare of the treatment. Like maybe the most would be a week after, that sort of thing, but there never was any complaint or like an assessment of the brows after a year? Don't you find that pretty suspicious? I, personally, do not believe that it'll go perfectly well for everyone. I'm sure the dye wouldn't work so well on some people as it did others. Moreover, there are NO pictures after a year at all. And trust me a googled it, with pretty much nada.

EVERYTHING IS 'GOOD'

So where are all the bad reviews? Well they are carefully hidden in their Facebook page. It's tucked away in a spot where google usually doesn't touch. Yes, posts on a wall lol. So basically people with complaints, have to post on Facebook to contribute negative feedback. Isn't it just a bit weird that no blogger has written at least some negative feedback? I mean even if it is sponsored, I feel like maybe some true honesty is necessary.

I understand that business is business. And that naturally, if someone is giving $2000 worth of free treatment, people are bound to be swayed to see it positively. However I just felt like expressing that maybe the ethicality of it may be lacking, simply because readers of those reviews may not know the full truth of the treatment? Ultimately, it's up to readers themselves to ascertain the factuality of each review. However, bloggers and reviewers have the responsibility of deciding which is more important: telling the full story to their readers or continue receiving free sponsorship due to their perfect reviews. 

Browhaus is just doing their business. Shoving packages, giving suspicious discounts and sponsoring bloggers are all in the name of business. Honestly in this capitalistic society, that's how they managed to not only survive but prosper so good for them. It's really up to us on how we decide to spend our money and decide whether we truly know everything about what we're getting into.