Let’s talk about a very specific, very chaotic brand of logic that I like to call “The Digital Paradox.” You know the feeling. You’re sitting on your couch, fuming, hurt, or maybe just bored and dramatic, and you decide: “That’s it. I’m done. Silence is my new best friend.” You hit that block button with the force of a thousand suns. It’s satisfying, right? That little animation where their name disappears into the abyss of your “Blocked Contacts” list—it feels like a spiritual cleansing.
But then, five minutes later, I’m sitting there staring at my phone like it’s a crystal ball, thinking: “Okay, but if he really wanted to talk to me, he’d find a way, right?”
The Olympic-Level Mental Gymnastics of the “Blocked” Life
If you’ve ever blocked someone and then performed any of the following Olympic-level mental gymnastics, welcome to the club. We have snacks, but we’re all checking our “Filtered Requests” folder.
- The Email Expectation: I’ve blocked his number, his Instagram, and his TikTok. But surely, if he’s The One, he’ll remember my professional Outlook email address from three years ago and send a formal 5-paragraph essay, right?
- The Venmo Investigation: “He hasn’t sent me $1 with a ‘please unblock me’ note yet. Does he even care about our future children?”
- The Carrier Pigeon Theory: I am halfway convinced he might show up with a boombox outside my window, or at the very least, create a fake account named “NotHim123” just to tell me my last story looked cute.
The Ultimate Ego Trap: Unreachable but Irresistible
It’s the ultimate ego trap. We want the peace of the block, but we want the validation of the pursuit. We want to be “unreachable” but also “irresistible.” It’s like locking the front door, bolting the windows, and then getting offended that nobody tried to climb down the chimney to bring us flowers.
We call it “delusional,” but honestly? It’s just human. We want to know that we’re worth the effort of an obstacle course. We want someone to prove that a simple software setting isn’t enough to keep them away from us.
Tina’s Reality Check: The Freezer Method
Tina’s Tip: If you find yourself checking your “Recently Deleted” photos or refreshing a shared Google Doc to see if his cursor is active… honey, put the phone in the freezer. Just for ten minutes. Let’s breathe.
The truth is, if I block him, I’m sending a boundary. If he respects that boundary, he’s actually being a “good guy.” But my toxic inner monologue is over here whispering, “No, he’s just not trying hard enough! Where is the passion? Where is the dramatic airport scene?!”
Thriving in the Delusional Era
Life isn’t a 2000s rom-com, and unfortunately, my “Block” button works exactly how it’s supposed to. It’s a tragedy, really. So, here I am, “delusional” and thriving, waiting for a sign from a man I’ve technically wiped from my digital existence. If you’re currently staring at your “No Caller ID” calls hoping it’s him (even though it’s definitely a telemarketer named Steve), just know you aren’t alone.
We’ll get through this. Or, we’ll just keep unblocking and re-blocking until our thumbs fall off. Whichever comes first.
Are you currently in your “Delusional Era” too? Drop a comment and tell me the wildest way you expected someone to reach out after you blocked them—I need to know I’m not the only one checking my LinkedIn messages for a ‘hey’!
I am not sure this battle ever goes away. You are not alone.