My mother's New Year's resolution for me was simple: make a serious effort at putting myself out there and dating again, and do it for one full year. 

Or until I fell in love. Whichever came first. 

How hard could one year of swipes and matches and awkward first dates be? 

In a word: bad. 

In nine words: bad and also hilarious, demoralizing, exhausting, and ridiculously amusing.

But the only thing worse than dating in the era of hookup apps and unsolicited dick pics is the absolute whole-life-flail of falling in love.