love notes: June in review
a reminder to always trust my gut
Welcome to Love Notes, my monthly recap where I share my favourite posts, what I’ve learned, and the highs and lows of single life/life over 40! Woohoo!
Hi friends! How was your June? (also, can you believe that it’s already JUNE?!)
My month was… eventful. Not in the way I expected, but in exactly the way it needed to go down.
First off, it went by so fast that I honestly wonder how intentional I was with my time. A lot of work came my way — which I’ve mentioned has been a godsend, especially after a year of freelancing highs and lows — and I’m truly grateful. I can see how I buried myself in writing, pitching, sourcing, and getting back into the rhythm. It felt really good. But I’m also super mindful of not letting work become my everything.
While I’m in the midst of rebuilding my finances and restructuring my value system/freaking life (which I’ll talk more about later this month), I don’t want to disappear into work — especially when summer is so short and sweet. We basically get three glorious months of it.
But, can I be honest with you? I don’t love summer. I mean, I appreciate the Vitamin D, the beach days, and the breezy dresses — but it’s not my favourite season. Summer has always felt a bit like those old camp dances: standing on the sidelines, hoping to get picked for a slow dance, thinking that moment would make me feel worthy. Thinking this was what I needed to feel a part of what everyone else was feeling. But the cute boy never asked, and I usually ended up in my bunk bed writing stories instead — and having a blast.
Maybe that’s just me. Maybe this is who I am — and maybe it’s time I really own that. But I still crave connection and community, including dating (we’ll get to that later), so it’s a constant balance. Honestly, who isn’t trying to balance it all? I'm just trying to meet myself with a little more grace, compassion, and good old-fashioned self-acceptance.
Maybe this is the summer of owning who I am — and creating a version of summer that works for me. Maybe I don’t need to be in my head so much. Maybe I can just live in flow. I like that idea.
Basically, as you can probably tell, June had me trippin’. Professionally and personally. I’ll touch on some of that here, but stay tuned — I’ll be diving into the real dating lessons I learned (and there are some big ones) later this month.
So, without further ado, here’s my June in review.
💖 Favourite Post of the Month
what Gen Z daters are teaching us about love (and labels)
With Pride Month in full swing, I’ve been reflecting on how much the conversation around identity, love, and dating has evolved — especially for younger generations. There’s this beautiful shift happening, one that feels softer, more open, more human
This was my most viewed post of the month, and it’s very apropos for June, being Pride Month and all. It also goes to show that you guys really do love reading about the latest dating trends AND what Gen Z is up to — and I get it. I think we’re all trying to figure out what love means to us, and how we can best show up and connect to people in the most authentic way possible — even if it scares the shit out of us, and/or makes us feel vulnerable. I love that we’re curious about connection. Let’s keep digging into that.
💖 A lesson in dating I’m carrying into July
Oof, where do I begin? The big one: listen to my gut. Don’t ignore red flags — not even the pinkish-red ones. Don’t question what I already know to be true — like, say, attraction. If it’s not there... it’s just not there. And that’s okay. It’s okay to walk away. It’s okay not to force a round peg into a square hole — in fact, let’s be clear: you should never do that.
If someone is “too busy,” let them be busy — and you get busy moving on. Anyone can send thoughtful texts or ask the right questions — but not everyone can back it up with action. Actions speak louder than words.
Honesty and integrity are everything to me when it comes to dating values. If they’re not there early on, chances are… they won’t show up later either.
Bottom line? If it feels like work from the start, or if you're already navigating multiple obstacles early on, take it as the sign to stop and disengage.
I know, I know — this probably sounds vague. I promise I’ll spill the full tea soon in a more detailed essay. But for now, let’s just say: the guy I thought I was seeing (even casually) turned out to be a total douche canoe.
On a brighter note… I also had a little moment in Starbucks. A spark. A glance. A reminder that connection can happen when you least expect it. More on that later, too. But for now, I’m learning to lean into the spark — to find the fun in dating again. To flirt, connect, and let things unfold without attaching too quickly to outcomes — even when someone seems to have it all together.
Because honestly? It really is about what they do, not what they say. As a heterosexual woman, I’m exploring what it means to have fun, to receive, and to stop doing the emotional labour that no one’s asked for — or earned.
💖 Where did I surprise myself this month?
A couple of things come to mind.
First, I didn’t fall apart when Dr. Douce Canoe revealed his true colours. What surprised me was how easy it was for me to disengage and detach once he did. Was I disappointed? Of course. But I could actually see the results of the healing work I’ve been doing — because I knew I needed to put myself first (even if there were moments I hadn’t). I knew I loved myself more. I knew I deserved more than what was being offered. And I realized it was a complete waste of my time and energy to keep investing in someone who had no intention of doing the same.
The old Brianne might’ve spiraled. Might’ve blamed herself. Might’ve cried. And not that tears are bad — they’re not. Emotions need release. But this time, it was a sign that I could move on quickly because I had my own back. I put myself first. I reminded myself of my worth. I wanted more — and I knew I deserved more.
Second, I really put myself out there on TikTok — talking about dating and relationships — and that was a huge step for me. I’ve been toying with the idea of being more front-facing online, maybe even starting a YouTube channel (!), and this month I finally got out of my own way. I reminded myself that what I have to say might resonate with someone. Maybe I’ve made mistakes in love. Maybe I’m still learning. But I do have wisdom and experience to share, and I want to keep doing that — not just in this newsletter, but across platforms.
That was big for me. I showed up messy, without makeup, often right after a workout. I showed up for me — and for anyone who might need to hear the message. And so far? The response hasn’t been bad at all. So I’m going to keep going. Keep showing up. Keep figuring it out.
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💖 If this month was a song, it would sound like…
💖 Photo dump….
💖 What’s Next?
I think I mentioned it at the start of this newsletter: I want to let this summer be what I want it to be—not what I think it should look like. I’m not usually one for “shoulds,” and I don’t tend to fall victim to FOMO, but hey, I’m human. And like anyone else, I can fall into the trap of believing I need to have certain experiences to feel like a “real” or “complete” person.
But after this month? I’m kind of over not trusting myself. I want to lean into who I am and what I want. I want to write my next book, explore my creative curiosities, and stay open to life—and love—finding me, rather than constantly feeling like I need to DO something.
No, I don’t think a guy is going to show up at my door like a pizza delivery man (but never say never?) (and wouldn’t that be amazing? A pizza AND a boyfriend?!), so yes, of course, I’ll remain open. Heck, I’ll even stay on the apps! But I think this is a redefining era for me. I used to equate being single with being alone. Then I started dating again and questioned if I should still be alone—or even wanted to be. But now? I’m realizing that being single can mean I’m simply open. Open to love. Open to life. Open to flirting with whatever good things the universe has in store. They don’t call it “single and ready to mingle” for nothing!
💖 Prompts for You to Consider
As we close out the month, here are a few reflection prompts to consider as you move from June into July:
Where did I surprise myself this month?
What belief or habit am I ready to release?
What kind of summer do I want to create for myself?
What does “being open” look and feel like to me right now?
What lesson am I carrying into the next month?
Anything you want to share in the comments?! I’d love to hear how your month was, and if anything I’ve said resonates with you!
Thanks for being here!
Love, Brie xox
