Can't handle rejection? It's you that's 'not ready to date'

There's no good way to dump someone.

- OLIVIA PETTER

But I wouldn't recommend doing it via voicemail. Of all the rejections in my life, that one courtesy of my first boyfriend, at the tender age of 13 - felt like a dagger to the face. I'd like to think I've got better at handling rejection since those early years - I know about empathy! I can process my emotions! I’ve been to therapy! - but, being honest, I’m not sure.

Being told “no” is still one of my least favourite things, whether it’s delivered by someone I’m dating, a friend, a family member, or literally anyone else I’ve ever spoken to. Thankfully, this week, I was delighted to learn that I’m not the only person who feels this way, particularly in the case of romantic rejection.

On Twitter/X, a woman shared a screenshot of a text from a man she’d been on a first date with after two weeks of messaging, in which he explained that he wasn’t ready to date. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong,” the message states. “I realised I’m not in a place where I want to date right now.” The texter goes on to paraphrase the usual platitudes: “This isn’t about you”, “You’re genuinely a great person”, and finally, “Dating just isn’t on my list of things to do rn [