Maybe it's just me, but in my recent years I have noticed that dating has taken a huge turn and I'm really not sure if it's for the better.

Remember in your early high school years when you would beg your parents to let you go see a movie with that cute boy from your english class? For most of us, we got the same reaction: only if you go in a group! That's what began "dating" at that age. Going out with your friends, but also enjoying the company of one another. It was nice, but not quite as intimate, there wasn't as much pressure on you. Slowly you'd work your way to your parents allowing you to go to their house, but of course only if their parents were home and there would be sufficient supervision (14 year olds get pretty crazy..). It changes with age too, once you start driving the dating game changes. You've got a lot more freedom, but you better be home at 10 P.M. like dad said, or you'll be grounded for months. And now we've made it to the current day, and what rules do we even have for dating?

I remember thinking my parents were crazy and controlling for making so many requirements for me to hang out with a boy when I was younger, but now that I'm older I see what they were doing. They were ensuring our safety, they weren't giving us a chance to be disrespected by someone who "liked" us. They were trying to instill a set of guidelines that we would remember when it got to the day that we were doing this on our own.

And now we're here and I'm not sure why we've all forgotten what our parents tried so hard to teach us. I've noticed in my personal experience that it's all or nothing with a lot of people. You go on one small date, or maybe it's not even a date and you're just grabbing a quick lunch or coffee, but then you get invited to stay the night with them or you're asked to come over every single day. What happened to pacing ourselves?

I was 15 when I was in my last real relationship (sad, I know) and we always saw each other in groups, we'd go on small dates on our own, we'd hang out and have a good time, but we never spent all day every day together because we were just dating. We were getting to know each other the right way, and I've never known someone quite as well as I knew him and vice versa, no one has ever taken the time to truly get to know me in that way. While I'm not saying that wanting to see your significant other every day is a bad thing, it is a lot for someone like me and I will get very overwhelmed at the amount of expectations so early in a relationship.

What happened to being friends first? I cannot tell you the number of friends I had of the opposite sex who ultimately had no intention of being my friend, they just wanted to find a way in. But there was no interest in upholding the friendship if they were not rewarded with more soon enough..... WHAT? I have come into contact with so many awesome guys during my lifetime, but nothing ruins a friendship quite like someone awkwardly trying to kiss you without any warning or prior talk of feelings or someone insinuating a physical/emotional relationship you are not interested in and getting angry at you for not wanting it too. PSA: girls are more likely to fall for the friends who stick with her, just be patient, you don't have to try and force anything, everything that is meant to be will find it's way!

I yearn for the idea of dating. The idea I have pictured in my mind of going to grab lunch one day, then a movie later in the week, and doing small, sweet, and simple things while you get to know one another better. I yearn for baby steps and innocence. I yearn for the curiosity of learning another soul. To me, that is intimacy. Being able to take your time and get to know another being mentally and emotionally is the most intimate thing you can do these days.

Sex has lost it's intimacy in our current sex-driven society, it's not hard to find. You have apps like Tinder, Bumble, Badoo, etc. All these apps are aimed at physical appearance, so obviously the people you meet are all based on physical attraction. (Sorry to any of you folks who have met your S.O. on these apps, you're the exception not the rule) Some people hit the jackpot like this, but for most of us, it's people looking for a quick fix for the moment and everyone is better than that, guy or girl, old or young; everyone deserves someone who wants to get to know their soul.

Dating has become corrupt in our society. That may not be the case for everyone, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. Dating barely even exists anymore. For a lot of relationships you are stuck in this "what are we?" stage of talking, or just hanging out, or whatever they want to call it. Want to know the best thing I've learned about that stage? If they are getting all the benefits of a relationship without actually having to put in the effort to be in a legitimate relationship, they will take full advantage.

I want dating, back! I want to build a relationship with another individual at a slow and steady pace. I want to know someone inside and out, all their fears and triumphs. I want relationships to reach a level of legitimacy again, I want the sweet dates without the pressure to spend every waking moment with the other person. I don't want to practically live with someone in order to begin a relationship; it isn't marriage. I hope one day this generation will see what has been done to dating, the changes that have occurred, and I hope that we come back and begin fighting for something real when it comes to those we care for and love.