Love, Lattes, and Letting People In**

Date: 2025-09-13 09:00:34

It’s 9 AM (again), and I’m back in my coffee shop corner, but today, something’s different. The barista—let’s call him Jake because, yes, I finally asked—just handed me my oat milk latte with a smile that lingered a second too long. And instead of overanalyzing it (okay, maybe a little), I just… smiled back.

Here’s the thing: I’ve spent so much time writing about letting go of control—of my messes, my to-do lists, my chaos—but I’ve been avoiding the real question: What happens when you let someone else in on the mess?

Last night, I went on a date. (Cue dramatic gasp.) Not a ”let’s get coffee and pretend we’re not both emotionally unavailable” date, but a real, ”I actually like you and might throw up” date. And for once, I didn’t rehearse my stories or stress about my outfit. I just showed up. Me. Mandy. The girl who spills coffee on herself at least twice a week and cries at dog videos.

And guess what? He laughed at my dumb jokes. He didn’t run when I admitted I once sewed my skirt to my dress form by accident. (Long story.) For the first time in forever, I wasn’t trying to curate a version of myself—I was just being.

It’s terrifying, letting someone see the unfinished edges. The late assignments, the bad days, the way I still low-key want to text my ex when I’m sad. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe relationships—romantic or otherwise—aren’t about proving you’ve got it all together. Maybe they’re about finding someone who gets the mess. Who doesn’t just tolerate it but likes it.

So yeah, Jake might just be a cute barista who makes a decent latte. Or maybe he’s something more. Either way, I’m not going to panic-plan our future or convince myself I’ll ruin it. I’m just going to sip my coffee, enjoy the flirty banter, and see where it goes.

Because the biggest evolution isn’t just embracing my chaos—it’s trusting someone else to do the same.

xx Mandy

(P.S. He spelled my name right again. I think we’re officially dating the coffee shop now.)