In this day in age “dating” just seems like a six letter word. It isn’t how it used to be, where the guy asks your parents’ permission to take you out, picks you up for your date dressed up with flowers in hand, and promises to have you home by ten. There is no borrowing dad’s car or going out to eat hoping to get to know you better before making it “official”. If you ask someone between the ages of 17-24 a common answer you'll get to ‘Are you two dating?’ would be ‘No we are just talking’. They can be talking to a lot of people, but where are you left standing when they won’t commit to you? How are you going to get married and have kids down the road if you fall in love with a guy who won’t call you back? The answer is you won’t.

He keeps you around for his own benefit and gives you nothing in return. He told you he wasn’t ready for a relationship, but wants you to do relationship things. He may have moments where he seems like he cares about you but will fall off the side of the Earth suddenly, only to reappear a few days later. He senses when you are ready to give up, and tells you just enough to hang on. At the end of the day you are left feeling upset, not good enough, and alone. He doesn’t see how much of a toll this takes on you, and if he does he doesn’t care. Sound familiar?

The dreaded “almost relationship” affects more of today’s youth than you’d think. You give and give and nothing ever changes. You make deadlines in your head thinking ‘if he doesn’t text me by (insert time) I’m done’, but you always move the deadline back accepting whatever excuse he gives you or making one of your own. If he is making you question your own self worth and you find yourself changing, and becoming obsessed with making sure he is happy you should reevaluate why you are “with” him at all.

Out of all the advice you are given I hope you read this, and it really sinks in. No matter how many times he mentions the future, it doesn’t matter. He has had the opportunity to start dating this entire time and he hasn’t taken it. A relationship isn’t supposed to be this hard, especially when you aren’t even IN a relationship. He isn’t the only guy in the world that can make you feel the way you do on his good days. There is someone out there that will make you forget about him that will love you for all that you are and all you have to give. You need to have the courage to make the decision yourself and have faith you will find the one you are meant to be with. Take a step back, mature a little, live a healthy life, be spontaneous, and find what truly makes you happy. You may find your way back you him down the road, but you owe it to yourself to take this time for you and stand your ground on how you deserve to be treated. If he doesn’t accept that, someone better will.