Dating as a whole is quite daunting for people.

The modern sage and comedienne Judi Love once declared: “Dating as a whole is quite daunting for people.” In these words, she captures a truth that transcends generations — that the pursuit of love is both a journey of hope and a trial of courage. For while the heart longs for connection, the path toward it is often shrouded in uncertainty, vulnerability, and fear. To date, in the truest sense, is to step into the unknown and say, “Here I am — will you see me?” It is this act of emotional exposure, this quiet daring, that makes the experience both exhilarating and daunting.

Judi Love, known for her humor and honesty, speaks from the heart of our times. In an age filled with endless choices and fleeting encounters, she reminds us that love — once sacred and slow — has become a labyrinth of uncertainty. The dance of modern dating, filled with digital illusions and hidden expectations, leaves many weary and self-conscious. Yet her words are not cynical; they are compassionate. She acknowledges the truth: that most people do not fear rejection alone — they fear being misunderstood, unseen, or unworthy of lasting affection. In that fear lies the root of what she calls “daunting.”

The ancients knew this feeling well. The poet Sappho of Greece wrote of love’s trembling sweetness, saying it made her heart flutter and her body tremble as if near death. The philosopher Plato, in his dialogues, warned that love was both divine ecstasy and divine suffering. For to seek love is to risk loss, and to reveal oneself is to risk judgment. What Judi Love observes in our time is simply what humanity has always known: that the desire to be loved, when paired with the fear of rejection, turns the simplest act of connection into a test of spirit.

Consider the story of Queen Elizabeth I, who, though surrounded by suitors and admirers, remained unmarried throughout her reign. Historians often speak of her caution, her political shrewdness — yet beneath that was a deeper human truth. Elizabeth had seen love betray power, loyalty, and even life itself. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, had been executed for love gone wrong. To open herself to such vulnerability would have meant surrendering her freedom and risking her crown. And so, like many in our age who find dating daunting, she chose independence over uncertainty — strength over surrender. Yet even in her triumph, one senses the quiet ache of solitude.

Judi Love’s insight reminds us that dating is not merely a social activity; it is an emotional pilgrimage. Each encounter, whether fleeting or lasting, demands honesty, courage, and self-awareness. To sit before another person and offer a piece of one’s truth is no small act. The daunting part, perhaps, is not the conversation or the first impression — it is the mirror that dating holds up to us. In seeking another’s love, we confront our own insecurities, desires, and expectations. The process itself becomes a teacher, revealing what we fear and what we truly value.

But her wisdom does not end in fear — it points toward growth. To know that dating is daunting is to accept that love requires vulnerability. The one who walks into the arena of love must do so not with armor, but with openness. The heart must risk bruising to feel alive. As the Roman poet Ovid once wrote, “Love is no timid sport.” It belongs to the brave — those who are willing to stumble, to laugh, and to try again. Judi’s compassion lies in her understanding that everyone, no matter how confident they appear, shares this same trembling courage.

So, my listener, take this truth to heart: do not fear the daunting path of love. Let your nervousness be proof of your humanity, and your vulnerability be the sign of your strength. Approach dating not as a battlefield, but as a garden — one where patience and honesty allow the heart to bloom. Laugh at your missteps, cherish your lessons, and remember that every attempt, even the imperfect one, brings you closer to wisdom. For as Judi Love reminds us, love is not for the faint of heart — but for those who, despite their fears, dare to keep showing up, again and again, in the beautiful and terrifying name of connection.