Online dating can be a wild ride full of unexpected situations, awkward moments, and yes, the occasional cringe-worthy encounter. But you know what? So can face-to-face dating... and life in general. Whether you’re meeting someone online or in person, there’s no escaping the occasional bump in the road.

It happens all the time: Someone makes a small faux pas and is ready to throw in the towel on all dating sites and apps. My latest example is a client who was casually swiping one evening in front of the TV (we’ve all been there, right?) and accidentally matched with one of her coworkers. Her reaction? She was ready to shut down every app and delete her profiles. And perhaps flee to Alaska for a remote life of no technology and dogsled racing. So I had to talk her off of the proverbial ledge.

This is what I told her, in no uncertain terms: That’s just silly! So what if you saw a coworker on Bumble? Or matched with an old high school classmate on Hinge? Or your dog walked across your phone on the couch and managed to send a message reading “djtosjdg wifhapw” to that cute guy you’ve been chatting with? (Don’t laugh — anything can happen.)

At the end of the day, these things are awkward, sure (and may lead to a weird look at the office), but they’re just not the end of the world... or even remotely close. The things in life, not just in dating, that often seem like such a big deal to us are really nothing to most everyone else.

Imagine you’re out on a first date and accidentally spill your wine. Are you going to immediately run out of the bar, race home, and never go on another date again? I hope not! Rather, you’re probably going to crack a joke at your own expense (“Can’t take me anywhere, right?”), grab some napkins, and clean up the mess. If the date is a nice person, they’ll help you clean up, too. And that’s exactly what you have to do in less-than-ideal online dating situations.

If my client’s coworker messages her, she can say something as simple as, “Oh! I just thought it was nice to see a friendly face. See you at work!” There’s no shame or embarrassment in being on a dating app — and it looks like they’re both in the same boat anyway, so there’s no judgment there. Plus, if she’s working with me, at least we can agree that her profile is fantastic. (Insert smug look here.)

Here’s the thing: Online dating can sometimes feel like a high-stakes game, but it’s not. Everyone on these platforms is just trying their best to meet someone great, one swipe at a time. So whether you bump into someone you know, send a message that makes no sense or swipe right on your ex (yikes!), the important thing is to keep your sense of humor. Dating — both online and offline — is about embracing the imperfections, not letting them derail your journey.

You can do some damage control on an unintentional right swipe (which always tends to happen at the least convenient moment, I might add). Some apps allow you to unmatch, so you might be able to undo your deed without the other person even knowing, as you’ll disappear from each other’s matched lists. There’s even reporting people, if things take a turn for the creepy. But there’s no reason to delete your account, change your photos or otherwise try to hide a small mistake.

Just know everyone has been there before. From unintended right swipes and accidental messages to even posting a photo that wasn’t meant to be seen by everyone on Tinder, it happens... but it shouldn’t cause the collapse of your entire online dating experience. Like I said before, grab those napkins and clean up the mess — and only then will you realize how small the mess is. But also, maybe don’t wear a white top and drink red wine.

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