The Freedom of No Labels: Who Are You Really?

You’ve probably heard the classic breakup line: “It’s not you, it’s me.” But I’ve always added my own twist: “It’s me I don’t like around you.”

I’ve been told more times than I can count that I should “choose life over career.” And sure, I’ve tried believing that—only to end up frustrated with myself for making choices based on others’ expectations instead of my own. 

Truth is: I don’t like who I become around people who constantly tell me I need to change. 

How can we connect without the weight of labels?

Why does getting to know someone feel so complicated? Because we slap labels on everything—dating, relationship, situationship—and suddenly, expectations pile up. 

What if we could just meet, be, laugh, and enjoy without the pressure to fit into a role? “Just be yourself” sounds simple, but in a dating or relationship dynamic, “yourself” often gets molded into a role—the caretaker, the giver, the lover. 

So who are we outside these labels? And how do we stay true to ourselves when meeting someone new?