Theres no right way to date, but theres definitely a lot of wrong ways.
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Updated 5 years ago,February 26, 2020
Dating advice is like folklore passed down through generations.
Whether theres truth in those words is not of concern.
Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis
And I get it.
Because I fell victim to believing this same kind of advice when I was younger.
But that advice actually sucked.
And its time to sort this all out.
Because dating is hard enough; its a vulnerable process thats complicated and lonely at times.
You dont need to throw shitty dating advice into that cocktail of perpetuated anguish.
If theres no spark on the first date, its not meant to be.
Getting to know a complete stranger takes time.
And dating is about learning what works and doesnt work for you.
Sometimes itll take until the third date to realize you really like someone.
I say if the person is nice and interesting, pursue things until the third or fourth date.
2. you’re gonna wanna act uninterested in the beginning.
This advice falls into the category of playing games, and games do not make for a healthy relationship.
You should be interested in finding someone as interested in you as you are with them.
Dont date someone with an incompatible zodiac sign.
Eyes roll into the back of my head
Im not into astrology.
Its just not my jam.
And this kind of advice completely ignores the idea of nature vs. nurture.
What makes someone a great partner is their personality.
Theyre not created based on how end the moon was at the time of their birth.
Wait until you find the one.
And I say that being in a very committed relationship.
I love my boyfriend.
I think were great together.
This kind of advice sets extremely high expectations for a romantic partner.
There are plenty of people out there that could be a great life partner.
Make them work for you.
I hate this advice for two reasons:
A relationship is not about who is better.
Youre not a prize to be won like a goldfish at a carnival.
Lets kindly stop with this notion of making someone work for your love.
A relationship is an equal partnership.
You should be loved, and respect, but both of those should be reciprocated.
Dont act like theyre below you and need to earn your love.
Thats a bit narcissistic.
Age does not matter.
What matters is the individuals experiences.
How they view life.
The way they view love.
Ive had the displeasure of dating someone 12 years my senior.
There was a reason he was still single.
On the other hand, my current boyfriend is two years younger than me.
Hes one of the most responsible and caring men Ive ever been with.
As long as everyone is a consenting adult, age doesnt matter.
Their past and how that shaped them matters.
Be your best self.
I understand where this advice comes from and the good intentions behind it.
Wanting to dress up for nice dinners and talk about happy memories on the first few dates makes sense.
Just dont feel the need to act like someone youre not.
Youre being too picky; youre not getting any younger.
This piece of dating advice almost brings tears to my eyes.
I know that being single can be lonely.
Its a rough process to go on dates and continually watch things not work out.
If someone is giving you this advice, tell them its unwanted.
Theres no right way to date, but theres definitely a lot ofwrongways.
