Dating and Appetizers.

Just shy of twenty-two I never truly have had the opportunity of dating.  Good, old, classic dating.  You know, when you meet this random person, exchange numbers in hopes of the other returning your attempts at continuing a relationship, then heading out into the world for that awkward and mysterious first rendezvous.  That idea never held any sort of appeal to me, I mean, come on, most of us do our best to avoid any kind of awkward situation.  This all recently changed for me.  I finally got to experience my first, real date!  This then led me to thinking, perhaps I’ve been experiencing this dating life all along, and it just wasn’t necessarily what one may deem as the standard.  What defines a true date?  Dinner and a movie, drinks and casual get to know each other conversations, maybe even beer goggling each other all night only to head back to a place of residence for a nice, intoxicating shag.  In the spirit of being a devotedly honest writer, the last two of those options seem to be my dating experience; if we can call it that and boy, let me tell you, has it blessed me with some interesting stories.  Without this urging desire to settle down any time soon, I have taken full advantage of indulging in the dating scene as of recent.  This has led me to experiences with musical prodigies, sloppy kissers and even pretentious tanning bed using gym rats.  Quite the assortment, but I don’t think I’ve ever really had a type. 

         Not only does it grant me with fantastic stories to tell, I’ve also gained a great deal of knowledge from such experiences.  First and foremost, under no circumstances, should you casually sleep with your friends.  It may seem like a great idea, but it’s not, at all.  You can only keep it casual for so long before one wants what the other does not, and that is enough to destroy not only all your uninhibited good times, but it can also destroy seven years of friendship, lesson learned.  Secondly, if you have friends of the opposite sex, don’t make the mistake of thinking it is a good idea to enter a relationship with one of their friends.  Even if your expectations in each other have been solidly established, dating one of their friends will undoubtedly stir things, and it probably will not end in a desirable way, lesson also learned.  Lastly, if you enjoy some body’s company, as soon as you’re enough drinks in to find yourself out at the bar, and it’s late, they’re announcing last call, put your damn phone down.  I don’t care what anyone says in regards to trying to make the infamous drunk texts sound cute, “you’re the one they’re thinking about when they’re too inebriated to think of anything else”, does not justify the complete and utter nonsense that will surely flow through your fingers to their phone.  It’s not a good time for anyone, not for them, and most definitely not for you when you shakily discover what was said the next morning.  Currently in the process of learning said lesson. 

         Of course, aside from what I may consider to be the most recent, major lessons learned, there are lesser lessons of equal importance.  Just because someone may be a bad kisser, does not make them a complete write off.  That guy you held no desire to text back the next day, will not become any more interesting if you wait a week to get back to him.  And most importantly, patience and persistence really do pay off; you’ll make that goal if you can manage to stick it out, even if it takes a couple months.

         Dating is a whirlwind of encounters.  From great to bad, mind-blowing to mind-boggling, it is definitely the kind of thing everyone should get to experience to its fullest.  I may even go as far as to consider it an essential on the path of growing.  You learn an incredible amount in regards to your self, such things you may not realize through any other sort of living.  So keep on dating, it certainly never gets dull in this vibrant city.