It’s funny how dating nowadays has become a competition. Let’s see how many people I can date in a span of three months. It’s painful to see girls so desperate to get into a relationship that they’ll hook up with any guy. Or it’s painful to see that in order for a guy to be cool, he’s got to get action from all the ladies. Our generation has honestly diminished the value of dating and has turned it into a game. Dating should never be a game.

Dating is a serious thing. When dating, you are taking someone’s feelings and emotions into your own hands. You are making a commitment to love, respect and honor the person you are entering into a relationship with. So many people think that dating is just another way to get to know people. NO, it’s not. If you want to get to know people then just be friends. But once you enter into that relationship, not only are you committing to getting to know them, but you are also committing to being responsible for their hearts and well being as well as physical aspects of the relationship. But most importantly, you are committing to their future.

Two years ago, I was given some of the best advice I have ever been given: The end goal of dating is marriage. If you cannot picture yourself marrying the person and if that is not what you both are intending with the relationship, then you should not be dating. I messed up a lot in high school when it came to boys. I committed myself to guys before truly recognizing the value of that commitment. I was desperate, just like most girls, to be loved. Little did I know that my heart would be broken because one, I rushed into things way too fast, and two, I didn’t have an end goal. I thought it would be fun to get to know guys, but ultimately my feelings were messed with and I ended up feeling more unloved than ever.

So what exactly am I saying?

Get to know people before you jump into a relationship. Take your time before you commit to holding their heart. If you enter into a relationship, make sure you both have the same goal in mind: marriage. Dating is intended to find your soulmate, not to kiss as many guys as possible or get in bed with all the girls. Take it seriously, because I really do think, and I think you would agree, that finding your soulmate is a pretty serious matter. It’s not something to joke about. You are trying to find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. So let’s stop treating dating like a game. Let’s treat it like the real deal. In the end, you’ll be more appreciative of investing time in one relationship than giving pieces of your heart out to a list of people and then only having a sliver left for the one who was supposed to have the whole thing. Hide your love away, save your whole heart, and you will find the one who will take care of it for the rest of your life. Be patient, be smart, and be pure. The end goal of dating is marriage. Don’t forget that.