When it comes to dating, there's one type of relationship nobody seems to want, and that would be the "friendzone." The friendzone is, according to Wikipedia, a platonic relationship wherein one person, most commonly a man, wishes to enter into a romantic relationship, while the other does not. Generally, it's an undesirable type of relationship. You've seen the shows, the memes, and even the movies— no one wants to be in the friendzone. To most people, it's a sign of weakness and defeat, and I'm guilty of giving it that kind of connotation myself. However, as the years passed and the relationships came and went I learned a few things, but most importantly, I learned that the friendzone is actually not a bad place to be.

If you think about your own ideas about what actual #realtionshipgoals are, it probably looks something like honestly, loyalty, laughter, and of course, friendship. Believe it or not, not every person you meet wants to date you or get you alone (although some of them might, so watch out for the snakes). Likewise, you aren't going to want to get with every person you come across, either. As people, what we really want is companionship. We want to know that we aren't alone in this world— and that's where we find friendship.

Friendship is this funny thing where you know everything and more about a person and you still choose to be around them anyway, and I think that it's the most genuine kind of relationship two people can have. True friendships will stand the test of time and space, and you'll always have those people in your life. The most dangerous relationships are the ones where you become so absorbed in each other that you forget about the people who truly love you unconditionally, and not just based on how well and how fast you can make a sandwich or bring them a beer.

So in my opinion, the friendzone is a safe zone. It's a kind of relationship that you should enjoy, not endure. The most successful relationships I've had were based on friendship in the first place. That being said, being friendzoned isn't the end of the world, and it isn't without its advantages. You will always be the one they run to for advice. It will always be your opinion that they value above anyone else's. They will trust you more than anyone, and that's a feat well beyond scoring a second date. If it's meant to be then it's meant to be, but until then you get to be a vital part of someone's life. And who knows, maybe one day you'll be more than "just friends."