We think we love to fall in love, but we don’t. We love the idea of being loved. We love to feel wanted, be complimented, and to feel special by someone else. Newsflash: we are settling. We are settling for someone who compliments us to get what they want. We are settling for someone who treats us like crap just because they make you feel special occasionally. We are settling for a relationship that looks better on social media than in real life. These things make relationships surface level and overall unimportant and a waste of time. I mean seriously, we are texting, snapchatting, and liking their instagram’s in hopes they will just understand that we like them. Social media flirtation is just sad to me because they are falling for you on a screen rather than you as a human being.

Call me an “old soul,” but a twenty first century relationship has nothing on falling hopelessly in love. Where did the idea of “talking” even come from? You aren’t dating, but you’re not just friends; you like each other, but aren’t sure at the same time. I don’t understand why that is even a term. Also, when did dates suddenly stop being a thing? We are constantly “hanging out” or “netflix and chilling” instead of going on a real date where you actually spend time and speak to each other somewhere that isn’t a bedroom.

We give up extremely too easily. We say that he eats strangely, he snores, he laughs too loud, he sings terribly in the car, etc. Newsflash #2: no man is perfect! Accept that men have flaws, and they will accept that you have flaws as well. If they can’t, then there’s someone better who will. So, I encourage you to wait. Wait for the man who holds the door in front of him and not behind him. Wait for the man who rings the doorbell instead of sending you a text saying “here.” Wait for the man who wants to spend time with your family. Wait for the man who picks up the phone to call you every once and a while. Wait for the man who gives you flowers (either from the store or plucked from the ground). Wait for the man who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. These are not unreasonable things to want, and anyone who says that you’re too picky has never heard of a thing called standards.

You do not deserve to be treated poorly. You do not deserve to be cheated on – ever. You do not deserve a dull relationship filled with read receipts and instagram followers. So wait, and have a vibrant relationship focused on the happiness of each other because that is what you deserve. If you don’t see yourself being with him in the future, you are wasting your time. You are better off alone than with a man who makes you feel alone. Wait for the man who doesn’t make you feel like you are settling. Wait because loving to be loved just isn’t good enough. Wait because if he won’t, someone else will.