#29 ~ No Love for Shoeless Joe? Part 1

Dating, I mean non-dating, oh! going on dates, boyfriend and girlfriend, exclusive..... Holy crap! If this was a college course I would be getting a big fat F!!!

There are literally hundreds of definitions regarding dating on the internet. Being newly single at the ripe 'ol age of a very young 52, I was thrown into a world I thought I knew, only to be completely bewildered. How hard could this be? In 10th grade, at age 15, it was completely clear to me if you were dating someone, if you had a boyfriend or girlfriend, if you were"going together" it was not only obvious to everyone in school, but pretty obvious to each other. In fact, most of the kids I knew had this knowledge at an even younger age.

How did this basic human ritual become so confusing? According to relationship expert psychologist Claire Stott, currently a data analyst at dating app Badoo, after a couple of months, you're perfectly entitled to get some answers. Well thank God for that! Women's Health Magazine states that if you know your partner's bathroom habits, then you are in a relationship. WTH? So if I know when the person I'm dating regularly takes a crap, I'm in a relationship? Okay, now I am thoroughly confused! Psychology Today states, "Dating is an emotional rollercoaster." Well that sounds inviting. I thought dating was supposed to be a time of goosebumps, giddy laughter, butterflies in your stomach and happy dances!

Try explaining to your 80 year old parents that the person your dating isn't your boyfriend/girlfriend. I wish it were that easy, and why can't it be? So, if anybody else out there needs a tutor to improve your grade on this whole dating thing I suggest you go talk to a millennial. Who says, who are "they" that defined dating anyway? 

I've decided I'm going to go all out and make my own rules. If you don't like them, then go find one of the million websites out there that can give you the 2020 rules. For me it's as simple as a 1st grade curriculum. Date means two people going out to a place of their choice and getting to know each other. If that date goes well you go on another date. When it feels right to the TWO PEOPLE INVOLVED, this is key here; when it feels right for the TWO PEOPLE INVOLVED, they can decide to be exclusive, otherwise known as only dating each other and no one else. At that time, if all moves forward swimmingly, the TWO PEOPLE INVOLVED can decide that they are in a relationship and can claim, "I have a boyfriend/girlfriend!"

I'm exhausted just writing this, let alone doing this! I don't think we need to read or look up definitions. If you have found someone worth dating, I hope and pray that the you can communicate to each other what your wants and needs are. I truly believe it comes down to the thing we all hope to be good at, communication.




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