The Beginning of the Journey
Once upon a time, in a quiet town buried under snow ❄️, lived a little red hen. As winter settled in, she knew it was time to keep dating—even though the journey felt as cold and long as the season itself 🥶. Somewhere out there, her perfect rooster was waiting 🐓. She just had to keep going.
One frosty morning 🌨️, her phone buzzed 📲 with a message from the shadchan: “I have a promising rooster for you—what do you think?”
The little red hen groaned 😩. Another date meant more awkward conversations and more effort. She looked around for help.
“Who will help me prepare for this date?”
“Not I,” said Doubt. “What’s the point? 😒 He probably won’t like you, and even if he does, it won’t go anywhere.”
“Not I,” said Fear. “What if it’s awful 😰, and you’re stuck there for hours making small talk?”
“Not I,” said Exhaustion. “Why don’t you just stay home? 😴 You’ve done enough.”
The little red hen thought about canceling. But instead, she tightened her scarf 🧣, put on her warm boots 🥾, and told herself, “If I don’t try, I’ll never know.”
And off she went, into the cold, for yet another date ❄️🚶♀️.
The First of Many Dates
The date was… fine. Not amazing, not disastrous—just fine 🤷♀️. They talked about winter vacations that probably wouldn’t happen 🏖️, laughed politely 😂, and parted ways with an awkward, “Let’s be in touch.”
When she got home, Doubt, Fear, and Exhaustion were waiting 👀.
“I told you this would happen,” said Doubt smugly 😏.
“This is never going to work,” whispered Fear 😬.
“You’re exhausted—take a break already!” yawned Exhaustion 💤.
The little red hen sighed, her heart heavy 💔. It was tempting to give up, to hibernate until the snow melted. But she shook off their voices. “If I quit now, I’ll never get closer to what I want,” she reminded herself. So, she kept going 🚶♀️.
Another Match, Another Decision
A week later, the shadchan called again: “There’s another rooster 🐓. He seems like a good match—are you up for it?”
Doubt rolled its eyes 🙄. “Seriously? Another one? You’re just setting yourself up for disappointment.”
Fear hissed, “What if you like him, and he doesn’t feel the same? 😟”
Exhaustion groaned, “You’re going to wear yourself out 😮💨. Skip this one.”
The little red hen hesitated. Their voices were loud, and the idea of facing yet another first date made her want to crawl under the covers 🛏️. But she took a deep breath 😮💨 and whispered to herself, “Every step forward matters, even if I can’t see where it’s leading.”
So, once again, she bundled up and braved the cold 🥶.
The Struggle Continues
Winter stretched on, and the snow outside mirrored how she felt inside—stuck, cold, and tired 🥱. She went on a few more dates. Some went well 🥂, others didn’t 😕. There were cancellations, awkward silences, and polite rejections 🚫.
Doubt, Fear, and Exhaustion were relentless:
“Just give up,” sneered Doubt. “It’s never going to happen.”
“What if you get hurt?” whispered Fear 😨. “Is it really worth the risk?”
“You’ve tried enough,” groaned Exhaustion. “Take a long break—no one will even notice.”
The little red hen wavered. It was so tempting to stop trying, to wait for spring 🌷 when things might feel easier. But she reminded herself: Winter is when seeds are planted 🌱, even if they don’t bloom right away.
So she kept planting, step by step, date by date 🐾.
Meeting Someone Special
Then, one snowy afternoon, she met a rooster who was different 🐓✨. He didn’t try to impress her with stories or brag about his résumé. Instead, he made her laugh—really laugh 😂. They talked about the small things that matter, like the joys of a perfect cup of coffee ☕ and the delight of seeing the first snowflakes fall ❄️.
It wasn’t a whirlwind romance, but it was something better—a steady warmth, consistent and real. 🥰.
As the winter dragged on, they went out on more dates, and each one felt a little easier and more comfortable 🤗. Before long, the little red hen knew she had found what she’d been searching for—a rooster who saw her, understood her, and made her feel at home 🏡.
Doubt, Fear & Exhaustion – The Uninvited Guests
A few months later, she sat down to plan her wedding 👰♀️🎉. As she wrote the guest list 📝, she paused.
“Should I invite Doubt, Fear, and Exhaustion?” she wondered aloud 🤔.
But then she shook her head 🚫. “They didn’t help me get ready. They made things more difficult when things were hard. They don’t deserve a seat at this celebration.”
And just like that, Doubt, Fear, and Exhaustion were left off the list ❌. Instead, she invited Hope, Courage and Patience.
The wedding was wonderful—filled with laughter, friends, and hope for the future 🥂❤️. The little red hen stood beside her rooster, grateful not just for finding him but for every step she had taken along the way, no matter how hard 🥹.
Making Room for Better Voices
Doubt, Fear, and Exhaustion often make unwelcome appearances in your dating life. They are the nagging voices in your head that tell you to give up when things feel hard, when a date doesn’t go well, or when the journey feels endless. They whisper, “What’s the point?” “What if it goes wrong?” and “You’ve already tried enough.”
But what if, instead of letting these voices take over, you could replace them with better ones? Here are three new companions to bring along on your journey:
- Hope 🌅: The voice that reminds you that every step forward is meaningful, even if you don’t see results right away. “What if this date is the one that changes everything?”
- Courage 🦁: The voice that says it’s okay to try again, even if you’ve been hurt before. “You’ve faced challenges before, and you’re stronger than you think.”
- Patience 🌱: The voice that reminds you that great things take time. “Even winter has to end—just keep planting seeds, and they’ll bloom when the time is right.”
And remember, you don’t have to make space for the negative voices at all. When Hope, Courage, and Patience take the lead, Doubt, Fear, and Exhaustion won’t stand a chance. Keep filling your thoughts with positivity and forward momentum—there’s no room for anything else.
Looking Forward
Dating can feel long and endless, like a winter that drags on forever 🌨️. Doubt, Fear, and Exhaustion will try to tell you to give up 😔. But every step forward, every small effort, brings you closer to where you’re meant to be 🚶♀️❤️. Keep going because when your moment comes, it will be worth every single snowy step. ❄️👣
And if Doubt, Fear, and Exhaustion show up uninvited, reach out to dating coach Miriam Zeitlin—she knows how to show them the door 🚪😉.