Mary shares her candid thoughts on modern dating, relationships, marriage and how to approach romantic love with self-love. From the age-old debate about who should pay for the first date to the importance of embodying the qualities you seek in a partner, this episode is filled with honest reflections and thought-provoking insights. Mary challenges traditional relationship narratives, encourages self-reflection, and reminds us that love is not the only path to a fulfilling life.

You will learn about...

• why the person who makes the invitation should pay for the date (and why this often falls on men)
• the unseen emotional and energetic labor women contribute to relationships
• the importance of becoming the person you want to be with
• rethinking the idea that relationships must be hard work
• why love alone is not always enough

Remember: You teach people how to treat you by how you treat yourself.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify. Your feedback helps Mary’s Cup of Tea reach more people who need these self-love reminders!

Get Mary’s self-love books:

1. The Gift of Self-Love, an interactive workbook that will help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself.
2. 100 Days of Self-Love, a guided journal with 100 prompts to help you calm self-criticism and learn to love who you are.

Mentioned In This Episode...

• Ep. 231 talking neurodivergence and 2025 goals with my bestie Dahli Durley
• Ep. 219 of Mary’s Cup of Tea: Should Your Partner Be Your Best Friend? with Rhaina Cohen
• Ep. 234: Reflecting on my trip to Cuba