Why I Chose Dating Coaching After My Breakup at 32

At 32, I went through yet another breakup. But this time felt different. 

This time, the ending wasn’t messy or drawn out. Day 1: I cried. Day 2: I cried a bit. Day 3: just a sniffle. By Day 4, I was looking forward, not backwards. To some, that emotional turnaround might not seem like much. But, for me, it marked my fastest recovery yet – from what had been an 18-month relationship. I felt proud. 

Not long after, my inbox received an unexpected surprise: a marketing email from a matchmaker I had spoken to a couple of years prior, when I was 30. At the time, I was toying with the idea of matchmaking – to help with my search for a life partner and potentially to explore a professional pivot. As a corporate recruiter, I’ve spent years matching people with companies; and, as a hopeless, life-long romantic, what greater pleasure than applying the same methodology, to connect hearts for love, instead?  

So, I followed my curiosity and made a few calls. Matchmaking services, I quickly learned, come with a price tag. And, honestly, I think they should. If you're short on time and serious about finding the right person, investing in expertise makes sense; after all, choosing a life partner is likely the most important decision you’ll ever make. 

Whilst I was deliberating following our introductory call, I was also busy swiping on the apps and I soon met someone new - someone who seemed promising. That lasted all of six weeks. 

Then came the usual cycle: dating, hoping, failing, trying again. And then came him - the boyfriend I would eventually part ways with at 32. Looking back now, I see it for what it was: a mismatch in values, life goals, and ultimately, in our levels of readiness for commitment. 

So, when that marketing email from the matchmaker landed in my inbox post-breakup, I didn’t roll my eyes or delete it. I saw it as a nudge. A quiet little tap on the shoulder from the universe: It’s time! 

Time to invest - not just money, but also energy and intention. And, time to explore why I keep veering off course in love, and how to course-correct, with clarity and purpose. 

I quickly scheduled an intake call and, during the first conversation, the matchmaker and dating coach shared a bold affirmation: 

“The next boyfriend you have will be the man you marry.” 

Something about hearing those words - spoken with such confidence - landed deeply, for me. It felt less like pressure and more like a promise I was making to myself; that I’m not doing this half-heartedly anymore. That I’m not wasting time on chemistry with no foundation, or on partnerships that are good - but not aligned.

This isn’t just another attempt. It’s a commitment to doing love differently. And so, I did.