There are two kinds of exs; the ones you delete so fast you practically erase them from existence, and the ones you keep lurking in your digital periphery – just in case. But the truth is, whether you’re the deleter or the lurker, there’s an unspoken rulebook to ex etiquette... and no one seems to have agreed on the rules.
Take the glow-up, for example. Why is it that the second we break up, they suddenly discover skincare routines, gym memberships, or God forbid, therapy? And why does it sting – not because we want them back, but because it feels like the very best version of them was reserved for everyone but us? We’re left asking ourselves: were we the problem, or the push they needed? And then there’s the social media minefield. Do we double-tap their “new beginnings” post as a silent peace offering? Or do we keep scrolling, wine glass in hand, pretending not to notice? Double-tap and you risk looking like you’re not ever it. Ignore it and you risk looking bitter. Either way... You lose.
Here’s the truth: we don’t want our exs back, but we want to know we left a mark. That we mattered. That we weren’t just a stop on their way to better. Maybe the real ex etiquette is this: allow yourself the petty scroll, acknowledge the sting, and then remember – their glow-up might look new, but you were the reason it started in the first place. You’re not watching from behind; you’re already three steps ahead.