By Analise Bruno, Senior Columnist
• October 20, 2025
The truth is, most of us don’t feel found all the time. We find pieces of ourselves in strange places — a spontaneous road trip, a solo walk across campus or a late-night conversation that unlocks something we didn’t know we needed to say. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re in the messy middle — and that’s where the best things start.
By Analise Bruno, Senior Columnist
• October 14, 2025
Because the truth is, you don't have to go along with anything that doesn’t feel fully aligned with your needs, even if it looks good on paper, if you already said yes or if you’ve done it before. Most importantly, you don’t have to do everything the other person wants, even if you love them deeply. Their adoration for you should never inflate or dissipate based on your response to certain requests.
By Analise Bruno, Senior Columnist
• October 7, 2025
Relationships aren’t meant to replace your life — they’re meant to expand it. You can still chase your ambitions, build your routines, nurture your friendships and cultivate joy independently while loving someone deeply. But it requires conscious effort. It requires, as philosopher Alain de Botton puts it, a shift from romantic idealism to emotional maturity.
By Analise Bruno, Senior Columnist
• September 30, 2025
Bringing up the "kids question" in your early 20s feels like skipping 10 levels ahead in a relationship. There’s this unspoken rule: Don’t bring up babies unless you’re 30, married or pregnant. But that rule? It’s outdated.
By Analise Bruno, Senior Columnist
• September 22, 2025
Having the man pay on the first date isn't about outdated tradition — it’s about thoughtfulness. It’s a gesture, a sign of respect and a reflection of genuine interest. We’re not asking for handouts — we’re asking for effort. It’s about someone showing they value our time, our presence and, yes, the investment we've already made before we even walked through the door.
By Analise Bruno, Senior Columnist
• September 16, 2025
One of the best pieces of dating advice I’ve ever received? The right person will never make you feel like you’re begging. If someone is making you feel needy for asking for communication, consistency or care, that’s not a “you” problem. That’s a mismatch in values.
Let me be clear — this isn’t a green light to become combative, aggressive or cruel. There’s a difference between healthy confrontation and chaos, emotional maturity and unchecked rage. What I’m talking about is the kind of honest and vulnerable conflict that actually builds relationships rather than breaks them.
While the thrill of a crush and new connections can be intoxicating, the best outcomes come to those who stay grounded and let relationships evolve naturally. Think of it like apple picking. If you pick the apple too early, it’s sour and disappointing. Wait until it’s ripe, and it will be sweet and rewarding. You may encounter a few rotten apples along the way — that’s part of the journey — but those experiences are lessons, not failures.
Part of that means nurturing the other loves in your life — your friendships, your family and the people who’ve held space for you long before romance entered the room. Your partner can be a priority, but they should never be your only one.
Perhaps we think we’re doing something by coming up with some pickup lines that are “outside-of-the-box.” But the more I thought about it, I couldn’t help but wonder if when it comes to pet names and flirtation mechanisms, has the modern dating scene lost its touch?
It’s so easy to forgo the things you love to do in order to be with the one you love — so easy that you might not even notice. Being apart, in any capacity, forces you to keep committed to yourself.
Whether it's your 36th wedding anniversary, your 16th birthday or even your 55th anniversary of establishing that one newspaper — milestones come in all forms — these dates are worth acknowledging.
