Starting over doesn’t always feel like fireworks. Sometimes it’s slow, awkward, and uncomfortable—like learning to walk again in unfamiliar skin. In this collaboration between The Walk and Tinder, we’ve gathered real stories—some funny, some chaotic, some a little bittersweet—that capture that pivotal moment when someone says: “That’s enough. It’s time to move forward.”

And since April 14 is officially known as Ex Day, we thought there was no better occasion to honor not those who left, but those who chose to come back to themselves. Because even if no one teaches us how to get over love, there’s something beautiful about finding the courage to open the door again, even when your hand is still shaking.

On Collagen, Luismi, Dating Apps, and Unexpected Turns – by Dani MJ

Throughout my life, I’ve reached a conclusion that’s not very popular but incredibly helpful: every story has an ending… even the ones that last 35 years. I learned this by watching my aunt go through a divorce. Yes, that aunt—the one who met her ex before emojis existed and thought Tinder was some sort of energy drink.

As with most traumatic events in my family, the divorce was celebrated at a cantina. There were rounds of black pearls, the anthem of the night was “No” and “Rata de Dos Patas,” and, yes, what began as a joke between my cousins and me ended with my aunt installing a dating app.

I’d seen my gay friends download it at lightning speed, my girlfriends swipe with the focus of someone hunting summer sales. But watching her—someone who had spent over three decades with one person—step into this world felt… revolutionary.

“Is this the famous collagen everyone talks about? How do I match with Luismi?” Truth is, my aunt wasn’t looking for a partner. She was looking for something much harder to find: herself. The version of her that had faded behind a TV screen showing Sunday afternoon soccer. And as strange as it sounds, I realized that sometimes, to find yourself, you have to make a profile and ask if you’d really prefer someone who says “family-oriented” or “adventurous, looking for something (but not too much).” In simpler words: step outside your comfort zone.

She didn’t find a collagen fix, or Luismi for that matter. But she found something better: a group of friends she meets at Mamá Rumba every second Saturday of the month, a newfound love for meditation, a new appreciation for pozole Thursdays with good company, and the freedom of living life on her own terms.

Starting Over, Moving Forward – by Kevin Gorian

I’m a cynic in many ways, yet I firmly believe that love and friendship can show up in the most unexpected forms. I also believe that life throws the weirdest situations at you right when you need them the most—not because they’re written in the stars, but simply because… life happens.

Today, I take on the narrator’s role to tell a story so absurd and so real that it deserves more than being just another laugh among friends. It’s about someone close to me—we’ll call him A.—who learned a big lesson about exes, dating apps, and children’s songs.

Meeting new people can be terrifying. Especially after your paper heart has been torn into a thousand pieces and tossed into the wind. In A.’s case, those pieces landed on Tinder.

He had just moved to a new city for work—a change that, unsurprisingly, ended his relationship. After some light swiping here and there, he matched with S. (we’ll call her that), and they had a great first date: a walk, some frozen yogurt, and a chance for him to discover a bit more about his new home. The night ended with a kiss.

The second date featured mediocre wings, a possibly dancing chicken, someone overly confident in their tour guide skills, and, of course, a motel. It was summer. It was HOT. So here’s a little tip from your narrator: if you’re headed for a steamy encounter in hot weather, a quick shower goes a long way.

After the first round, S. asked an innocent question: “What’s the weirdest song you’ve heard during sex?” A. said he had none—which she apparently took as a personal challenge. She added something to the playlist and got back to business.

Everything was going fine until… “If you want to dance, play, paint, or sing, you can come to my house…”

S. was in her zone, completely unbothered. But A. couldn’t ignore it. The kid’s voice kept going: “Chipi, chipi, chapa, chapa… dubi, dubi, daba, daba…”

And there he was, having a very adult moment to what was clearly a preschool anthem. “Mágico, mi dubi dubi. Bum…”

That night, A. learned two things: One, always bring your own playlist. Two, starting over doesn’t mean everything will go smoothly—but it does mean you’re moving forward.

And maybe that’s the whole point. Because getting over your ex doesn’t always come with a dramatic speech or a movie moment. Sometimes it comes with bad wings, suffocating heat, and a ridiculous song that somehow helps you laugh, let go, and try again. From that night on, A. kept swiping—with hope, and with “Dubidubidu” as the soundtrack to his fresh start.

Post-Breakup Survival Manual – by Mike MV

After five years together, our relationship ended not because we stopped loving each other, but because we spoke different languages when it came to love. I wanted stability, she wanted freedom. I dreamed of building together, she longed to feel unbound. And so, heart shattered and self-esteem at zero, I found myself back in the world of the single.

Maybe it was heartbreak, maybe boredom, maybe the need to feel something again—but one night, with a glass of wine and a dramatic soundtrack playing, I downloaded Tinder. At first, it felt like a yearbook meets reality show audition: too many fish, too many gym selfies, too many bios saying “looking for something real” with zero effort to make conversation.

But then something shifted. I started talking to people who saw love differently—people who weren’t afraid to express what they wanted, without the pressure of “forever” or unshakable commitments. I learned to go with the flow, to enjoy conversations without dissecting them for signs from the universe, to connect with no expectations but plenty of authenticity.

One day I met someone. Not “the one,” not my ex’s replacement, but someone who made me laugh again, who reminded me how to speak without fear and helped me understand that love isn’t always a perfect equation. Tinder didn’t hand me a fairytale romance—but it gave me something better: the chance to find myself again.

It’s Swipe Time – by Select Ishtar

Swipe left, swipe right. For a guy learning who he is, Tinder was essential. I went on countless dates—some turned into amazing friendships, others into short-lived flings. But every one of them helped me take the process of meeting someone seriously.

They say you have to let go so the universe can catch it. Somewhere in those swipes, I met a guy who caught my attention. We talked for hours, said goodbye, and sent each other the coveted “I had a great time, hope we do it again” message. And we did.

I had just come out of a relationship, didn’t know what I liked anymore or if I had love left to give. But that swipe changed me. We didn’t have the same goals—and yes, I fell for him anyway. I realized I still wanted connection. And weirdly enough, I discovered myself again.

Apparently there’s a curse on a certain spot in Coyoacán when it comes to first three dates—and honestly, I kind of like having something to blame for the end of our thing. But I also realized that first look, the moment you actually meet someone and see how good they look in a button-down, is what sticks with you.

Tinder helped me meet someone I’d never have crossed paths with otherwise. I still walk through that same park, and I always smile. Who knows—maybe with the same randomness that brought him to my screen, the universe will bring him back to my path.

Every story in this collection is proof that love—or something like it—can find you the moment you allow yourself to move on. Sometimes it arrives in the form of a surprising conversation, an absurd date, or a shared playlist that makes you laugh again. It’s not about replacing someone. It’s about reconnecting with yourself.

And in the spirit of Ex Day, we’re reminded that not everything that ends is a failure. Sometimes, it’s just the beginning of something better. Swipe by swipe, day by day, memory by memory—the past fades, and the future, uncertain as it may be, always holds space for a new beginning.