It been a long time in which I have dated a guy. While it may not be very long, in the long run, a brutal break up can leave a person uninterested in the dating scene for some time. I recently decided to take the risk and go meet a guy who has mutual friends (after the urging of my mom). I did not know what to expect, but I did learn a few lessons from this experience.

1. It's okay to be nervous.

Meeting anyone for the first time is very intimidating. Not knowing another person and having to spend a few hours around them is out of my comfort zone. I canceled, but he told me that if I changed my mind to let him know. A few hours later, I decided to follow through.

2. If he doesn't treat you the way you want to be treated within the first few times, don't waste your time.

The first few times you meet someone, it clues you into the impressions they want to leave, and who they want to come across as. If they don't treat you how you want to be treated, you should not waste any more time letting yourself be treated that way.

3. Gentlemen are rare.

It's nice to be exposed to how men can treat you. Having my car door opened, food paid for, and being treated respectfully was very different than I had experienced before.

4. It's okay if you don't see the relationship going further.

Relationships sometimes end, relationships sometimes never begin. If you don't see anything becoming of the date, then it's okay to say so. What isn't okay, is hurting the other person or yourself, and wasting time.

Sometimes relationships don't go well. It happens. Getting back on the dating scene can be intimidating, but with time, healing takes place and the right person will come along. All in all, my first experience back on the dating scene has been a positive experience, but it might not go anywhere, and that is okay.