We’re burned out on swiping. The dating apps promised connection but let’s be real, they mostly delivered ghosting, half-effort conversations, and “hey” texts from people who have no business dating anyone. If you’re tired of feeling like your love life is stuck in a never-ending audition, here’s a radical idea:

Your next date shouldn’t come from an app.

It should come from a friend.

Someone You Know Knows Someone You Should Meet

The love of your life is probably not a total stranger. More likely? They’re one or two introductions away.

That’s the magic of social proximity aka the “six degrees of separation.” Someone in your circle knows someone in their circle who knows someone who might just be your person. But we’re too busy outsourcing dating to the algorithm to realize the answer might already be in the group chat.

Apps rely on data. People rely on discernment. And let’s be honest: Your best friend or your hairstylist probably knows your type better than a dating platform ever will.

Let’s Bring Back Matchmaking (the Modern Way)

Before swiping was a thing, people met through people. Friends introduced friends. Aunties played matchmaker. Coworkers said, “Hey, you two should meet.” There was a community-based approach to love, and while it wasn’t always perfect, it was personal.

We’ve lost that.

Modern dating is isolated, performative, and wildly disconnected from the people who know us best. But maybe it’s time we bring back the old ways with a new energy. Not controlling. Not awkward. Just intentional connection through people you trust.

What You Help Make Happen for Others, Often Comes Back Around

Here’s an overlooked dating hack: if you want to meet someone, help someone else meet someone.

Be the connector. Make the intro. Start the conversation. Ask your friends who they know, and offer to set them up, too. There’s something powerful about stepping into the role of matchmaker not just for others, but for yourself.

Because the truth is, love tends to show up when we’re helping others find it, too.

Say It Out Loud: “I’m Open to Being Set Up”

Tell your people. Seriously. Start letting trusted friends, coworkers, or mentors know that you’re open to being introduced to someone amazing.

Say it with confidence:

“I’m not just looking for a vibe. I’m looking for real. So if you know someone emotionally available, self-aware, and serious about love send them my way.”

That’s not desperate. That’s strategic. That’s you taking your love life seriously and inviting your community to stand with you in it.

Because at the end of the day, dating apps don’t know your values. Your people do.

The Bottom Line

Stop waiting on a perfect algorithm. Start leveraging your real-life network.
• Ask your friends to play Cupid. Say yes to setups.
• Be the matchmaker you wish you had.
• Love travels fastest through people.

Your person is probably closer than you think. Not in your DMs but in someone’s contact list.

Want to connect with a community that’s serious about real love not just dating hype? Join me inside the Last Year Single program at www.jackiedorman.com. Let’s find your person together.