Why My Libido is Currently in Witness Protection

Hey guys, it’s Tina. Grab a glass of wine (or a green juice, if you’re still pretending your New Year’s resolution is alive), because we need to have a real, unfiltered heart-to-heart.

I was scrolling through my phone the other day, thinking about maybe—just maybe—dipping my toe back into the dating pool. But then I paused. I looked at the digital landscape of “U up?” texts and blurry gym selfies, and a cold shiver went down my spine. Honestly? I’m terrified.

The Terrifying Landscape of Modern Dating

I’ve officially reached the stage of life where my fear of a random STI is significantly stronger than my desire to get laid. Is it just me, or does it feel like the world is a literal petri dish right now?

I’m at the point where I look at a cute guy at a coffee shop and instead of wondering what his favorite book is, my brain goes: “I bet he has something incurable.” It’s a tragedy, really. My inner romantic has been replaced by a paranoid health inspector with a clipboard.

When the Inner Romantic Becomes a Health Inspector

I feel like every time I think about meeting someone new, my brain flashes a giant neon sign that says: “REMEMBER: AIDS AND HERPES STILL EXIST.” And look, I know that sounds dramatic. I know we have modern medicine and protection. But in a world where people can’t even be bothered to return a Tupperware container, am I really supposed to trust a stranger with my literal biological well-being?

The Nostalgia for Simpler Hookups

Remember back in the day when the most awkward part of a hookup was deciding whose playlist to listen to? Now, I feel like I need a notarized blood panel, a background check, and a letter of recommendation from their primary care physician before I even consider taking off my socks.

It’s hard out here! You want to be spontaneous. You want to have that “main character” moment where you meet a stranger and sparks fly. But then the “rational Tina” kicks in and reminds me that sparks can also be a symptom of a localized inflammatory response.

Finding Sanctuary in Safety

So, for now? I am happily retired from the streets. My bed is a “Sanctuary of Safety.” If you want to get close to me, you basically need the security clearance of a White House official.

I’ve realized a few things during this hiatus:

Waiting for the “Verified Healthy” Badge

I know I’m being a bit of a hypochondriac, but can you blame me? The dating apps feel like a game of Russian Roulette where the prize is a trip to the clinic. I’m just waiting for the day when Tinder integrates with MyChart so I can see a “Verified Healthy” badge next to someone’s height. Until then, I’ll be right here, safe, sound, and probably overthinking everything.

Am I the only one feeling this way, or are we all just collectively terrified of each other’s germs now? Drop a comment and let me know I’m not crazy. Or, if you’ve actually found a way to date without feeling like you’re walking into a biohazard zone, please—share your secrets with the class.

Stay safe (literally),

Tina

Just enforcing the Vinaya (monastic rules) which Buddha himself created would solve most of the Sangha's discipline problems. No monk/nun politicians, no handling money, no luxuries, no violence, no racism, no sexuality, no fancy titles….

https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/President-to-get-tough-on-indisciplined-monks/108-341428

#buddhism #vinaya #sangha #discipline #politics #money #luxury #violence #weapons #racism #sex #sexuality #celibacy #honor

Why More Young People—Especially Women—Are Choosing Celibacy and Asexuality

📰 Original title: The Influencers Normalizing Not Having Sex

🤖 IA: It's not clickbait ✅
👥 Usuarios: It's not clickbait ✅

View full AI summary: https://killbait.com/en/why-more-young-people-especially-women-are-choosing-celibacy-and-asexuality/?redirpost=e7352138-a27b-411b-8d16-b665ff4eb4f7

#society #celibacy #asexuality #relationships

Why More Young People—Especially Women—Are Choosing Celibacy and Asexuality

📰 Original title: The Influencers Normalizing Not Having Sex

🤖 IA: It's not clickbait ✅
👥 Usuarios: It's not clickbait ✅

View full AI summary: https://killbait.com/en/why-more-young-people-especially-women-are-choosing-celibacy-and-asexuality/?redirpost=e7352138-a27b-411b-8d16-b665ff4eb4f7

#society #celibacy #asexuality #relationships

Vocation

From the Latin vocatio/vacare, meaning “to call,” “summons.” This is an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they’re suited, trained, or qualified. In modern times, it’s used in non-religious contexts; the meaning(s) of the word came out of Christianity.

There was a period where “vocation” almost exclusively referred to the clergy or the cloistered religious. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), specifically the document Lumen Gentium, re-emphasized that every baptized person has a primary vocation: to become a saint. This was a spiritual game changer!

The idea of vocation is central to the Christian belief that God has made each person with gifts & talents towards a specific purpose & way of life. More specifically, in the Eastern Orthodox & Catholic Churches, this idea of vocation is especially associated with a divine call to service to the Church & humanity through particular vocational life commitments such as marriage to a particular person, consecration as a religious dedication, ordination to priestly ministry (in the Church, of course) & even a holy life as a single person.

The Church generally categorizes “secondary” vocations into 4 distinct states. Each is seen as a way of giving oneself away:

• The Priesthood:
  • This is a sacramental vocation. In the United States cultural context, there has been a massive historical shift. In the mid-20th century, “Irish-Catholic” culture often viewed having a son in the priesthood as the ultimate family honor.
• Consecrated Life:
  • This includes monks, nuns, brothers, & sisters. They live according to the Evangelical Councils:
    • Poverty: Owning nothing individually.
    • Chastity: Celibacy for the sake of the “Kingdom of Heaven.”
    • Obedience: Following the will of their superior.
• Married Life:
  • In Catholicism, marriage is a sacrament. The “call” here is for the sanctification of the spouse & the procreation/education of the kids. This was often seen as a “secondary” vocation to the priesthood. But modern theology (especially the “Theology of the Body” by Pope John Paul II) frames marriage as a primary icon of God’s love for the Church.
• The Committed Single Life:
  • While not a “canonical” state in the same way as the others, the Church increasingly recognizes those who remain single to serve others, the Church, or their professions with a level of flexibility & dedication that married people cannot maintain.

The American Catholic experience of vocation is unique. In the late 19th & early 20th century, Catholic vocations helped build the American infrastructure of healthcare & education. The Sisters of Mercy & Daughters of Charity built more hospitals & schools in the United States than almost any other group.

The Sisters of Mercy founded a hospital (St. Rita’s/Mercy Health) in our founder’s hometown. This particular hospital was built in 1918 to combat the Spanish flu pandemic.

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A quotation from Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Conquest of Happiness, Part 2, ch. 17 “The Happy Man” (1930)

More about this quote: wist.info/russell-bertrand/818…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #bertrandrussell #asceticism #temperance #celibacy #abstinence #diet #focus #goodlife #happiness #interest #selfdenial #selfrestriction

Can God just make up his mind already?

#atheism #religion #Catholicism #Islam #polygamy #celibacy #memes #humour