Dating is basically like a job interview. Except it can last several years. And either of you can just get up and leave at any time without explanation. And there’s sex involved. And unresolved childhood issues. Now that I think of it, dating is actually way more frightening than a job interview.

Imagine a partner who puts your needs before their own. A partner who demands very little of you, always does what you ask, and doesn’t bring up problems in the relationship. Sounds great, right?

Being human is hard. So hard, in fact, that the very first thing the Buddha had to say about life was that “existence is suffering.” That may sound like a downer, but it’s also a fact. Given that a big part of being human is to suffer, it’s pretty important to understand what suffering is — and how to deal with it.