How to Follow the 2 2 2 Dating Rule When You're Single
The economy sucks right now—you know it, I know it, we all know it. But the truth is, despite this, many of us are either single by choice, still actively dating, using 11/11 portals to manifest our dream partners, or in some cases, waiting until the clock strikes midnight to eat 12 grapes under the table. This New Year’s Eve tradition comes from Spain and Latin America and is known as “Las doce uvas de la suerte”—The Twelve Grapes of Luck. At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, you eat one grape for each of the 12 clock chimes, symbolizing good luck for each month of the coming year. Sweet grapes mean good months ahead. I’ll admit, in 2023 I did this, and 2024 was a fantastic year for me in love, money, and travel.
But you may be wondering, Samara, what does this have to do with the 2-2-2 Dating Rule? Well, as the new year approaches and this one comes to a close, I’m sharing some tips on not only how to bring in love in the New Year (if you want it) but also how to maintain a self-loving relationship, even during these unprecedented times. First things first—you need to release control and the limiting belief that things in your life or around you won’t improve. The law of attraction doesn’t only work in love; it works in life as well.
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Something like the 2-2-2 dating rule doesn’t apply just to couples—it applies to single women too. Every two weeks, take yourself out on a nice date. Every two months, take a weekend trip with friends or solo. And every two years, go on a week-long solo vacation to a new place. You can start your 2026 planning now, and your vision board should feature things you’re looking forward to doing and experiencing for yourself. Sprinkle that little New Year’s Eve tradition at the very top, and now, let’s outline what you can do to set yourself up for a prosperous year ahead. Solo date nights are so important for a woman because they allow you to be intentional about your time out—the outfit you wear, the makeup you do, and so forth. This isn’t about attracting a partner but about learning what makes you happy and being confident in your own company.
For many people, this can feel weird or awkward because they think people around them are judging them or thinking, “She’s here alone; she must be lonely.” And the truth is, people will judge—but that doesn’t mean their judgment is correct or that it should define how you live your life. These are strangers you’ll likely never see again. But what about the economy? How are you supposed to afford dining out? We can all afford to dine out once in a while. Social media has made many of us believe we shouldn’t leave the house if we don’t have at least $100 to spend eating out and tipping—but that’s not true. Tip what you can, not what you feel obligated to. You are the main character of your life, and one of the traits of main character energy is doing what makes you happy without seeking approval from others. If you want to tip $5, then do it. If you don’t want to tip at all (which I don’t recommend), then don’t.
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Manifest more trips when you eat your grapes, and make a conscious effort to plan a small trip every two months. This could be a road trip or a visit to see a waterfall in upstate New York. The point is to show up for yourself in ways that make you feel happy to be alive and remind you that you have a purpose. That’s the deeper concept behind curating a vision board—it gives you hope and something to aspire to. When you decide to integrate the 2-2-2 dating rule into your life, you’re more likely to maintain a positive attitude, embrace empowering beliefs, and, most importantly, open yourself up to new people, places, ideas, and traditions.
No matter where you are in life, there is always more to achieve, more to see, and more to feel. There’s always the chance you’ll want to take a flight to Miami and rent a boat to just lay out on the water in the middle of the sea. That doesn’t have to be a new experience every time, but remember that each time you experience it, you’ll be in a different place in your life. You’ll express gratitude for different reasons and feel new emotions depending on where you are in your journey.
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Lastly, every two years, go on a week-long vacation. This was something I used to struggle with because, as a Black woman, traveling can sometimes be difficult when people in other countries act racist and make your experience unpleasant. But to that, I say—find a community. Being single is great, but having a community is even better. We have to get accustomed to leaning on one another so we can experience what the world has to offer without feeling timid or apprehensive. One of the things that has contributed to this fear is the rise of aggressive media hitting mainstream platforms. Think of streaming networks like Zeus or Now That’s TV and the type of content they showcase of Black women across the world. It’s all by design, and the more we support those networks at home, the harder we make it for ourselves to be accepted in places outside of our environment.
All in all, the 2-2-2 dating rule is about being intentional. It’s not magic, but it gives you something to look forward to—and the grapes are just the extra fruit on top.
by Samara Morris
