“The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself,” she said. “And if you find someone to love the you, you love, well, that’s just fabulous.”
When it comes to finding love in today’s modern world, the only advice I could give you is to follow Carrie Bradshaw’s wise words and hope for the best.
I mean, Sex and the City’s success wasn’t exactly a coincidence.
Unfortunately, the act of dating has somehow become a game, and one that ended up with its own set of unwritten rules, silently followed and carefully studied.
“You should wait at least a day before you answer his text,” advises one friend.
“Screw that!” screams the other, “You should see how quickly he replies, and if it’s one hour, wait a minimum of two and a half before opening the text.”
“Oh no, you should just not respond. You’ll look mysterious,” smiles my friend whose name shall remain anonymous (but for the sake of it, let’s call her Samantha…)
Honestly, millennials, doesn’t this exhaust you?
Love isn’t calculated.
Love is one of the most powerful emotions on this planet, yet we’ve all convinced ourselves our dating culture prefers to keep feelings at a minimum and emotions locked deep, deep inside our heart.
So, It’s time to burn the rule book, and forget whatever regulations you put on yourself within your dating life. Start following your gut and allowing your heart to guide you by throwing these rules far out of the window.
Here’s 3 of the most ridiculous dating rules our generation struggles through:
1. The waiting rule
Is it a day?
Is it an hour?
Is it two?
They say good things come to those who wait, but at what point does ‘waiting around’ benefit us?
Guys, do you like her? If so, pick up the damn phone and act on it.
And, ladies, you don’t need to wait for him to text you or call you because “he’s the man,” and because you believe he should be the one to reach out to you first.
If you want to see him again, tell him.
Do you want to respond immediately to a text?
Hell, go for it! Because at the end of the day, you have absolutely nothing to lose.
2. “Let’s Chill”
And before you all roll your eyes, I’m aware that chivalry is pronounced death.
Netflix, wine, pizza on your couch may very well be considered as romantic on your fifth date, but definitely not on your first.
Showing a girl you made zero effort isn’t going to get you a second date, and definitely not a successful first one.
Guys, take time out of your day to ensure she feels your passion. Take time to tell her she’s beautiful. Take time to get to know her before suggesting taking your relationship further.
If you can’t do these things, don’t waste your time. And more importantly, don’t waste hers.
3. The Kissing Rule
How many times have you heard the phrase, “You’re not supposed to kiss on the first date?” Somewhere, someone came up with this “kissing rule.”
Guys, seriously?
If you want to kiss your date, GO FOR IT. Chances are she’s been waiting for you to make a move ALL NIGHT.
Want to wait until the second? Do exactly that. It’s your heart that is supposed to guide you – not a series of unwritten rules.
Dating is a journey, not a game. It’s an experience. It’s about discovering yourself.
It’s about discovering how you feel about another person. It’s about finding someone who enjoys eating leftover pizza with you at midnight while watching terrible reality television and mocking the leading characters you both hate.
Throw that imaginary rule book out the window, because dating is not about winning or losing. It’s about happiness.
Featured image via David Gomes on Pexels
