Tessa ReneeTexting back within 24 hours? Not a medal. Holding the door open? Basic manners. Remembering my name after two dates? That’s the floor, not the ceiling. Somewhere along the line, people started confusing the bare minimum with effort, and honestly, it’s embarrassing.
If the best thing you bring to the table is “I’m not a complete disaster,” you’re not raising the bar, you’re crawling under it. Real effort means consistency, communication, and actually showing up in ways that don’t feel like a TikTok tutorial on How to Date for Beginners.
Final Thought: Doing the least doesn’t make you special, it makes you forgettable.
Disclaimer: This is honesty, not hate. If you’re bragging about bare minimum, maybe level up.
Tessa Renee
