Have you ever experienced a particularly bad break-up and you thought it would be easy to get on with your life? I have. And it wasn’t easy. That period in my life was a really bad time for me. I had just broken up with my girlfriend of three years. I couldn’t admit that it was my fault. I was always away working or doing something else. I wasn’t there for her. What’s worse, I really thought it was going to be easy to get back on the horse. In fact, I was actually looking forward to the single life. It started out pretty well to be honest. I never felt freer. Parties, going clubbing, one-night stands it all sounded pretty appealing at the time. How wrong I was. Or was I just unlucky?

During this time, I had an epiphany. There was this one occasion I was on a business trip in Canada. I was supposed to be there only for a weekend to attend a conference in Toronto. I was assigned to go there alone. I didn’t mind very much, the fact that I was going by myself although the single life was by now beginning to feel a little bit lonesome.

The conference was pretty uneventful. I was bored out of my mind the whole time. I decided to try the bar scene and have a few drinks. To my horror, everyone in the club looked like they were in their teens. I looked so out of place with my shirt and tie. I didn’t really bring any casual clothes. I never thought that I would even try going in a club when I was packing. I should have thought ahead.

I countered my embarrassment by downing a few beers. I though: that ought to fix things, some liquid courage. It only made it worse. I still stood out like a sore thumb. Fortunately, the bartender took pity on me.

"Lonely night, huh?"

"Yeah. I just broke up with my girlfriend." I was surprised with my sudden honesty.

"Do you know of any dating service in GTA?’ I continued.

"GTA?" He asked with a quizzical look.

"Greater Toronto Area. Sorry I’m still in office mode."

"That, you are. Hmmm, I know of a few Toronto escort services, if that’s your thing."

"A Toronto escort agency?"

"Yes. You know. The whole nine yards: rub and tug, slip and slide, you know the drill. The Toronto escort service industry isn’t as bad as it sounds. You know what, go back to New York. Are you from New York? You’ll see what I mean. Escort agencies in Southern Ontario have the best broads. Take it from the expert." He laughed loudly.

I just laughed with him. I thanked him and left, pondering about my next move. It was getting really chilly out there and I needed to go back to my hotel. Then it dawned on me: I am a pathetic loser. Why am I even here? I needed to get my life back on track.

That was then that I had decided to take things seriously. And I did. Things did get better. I found a new girl and I didn’t take her for granted. I lived in the moment. And I never looked back.