The two approaches to dating... and why you shouldn't rely on them | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Dating

The two approaches to dating... and why you shouldn't rely on them

Competing opinions on how to find a relationship shouldn't make or break your dating life

5
The two approaches to dating... and why you shouldn't rely on them

As young adults, advice is thrown at us left and right. Some with differing counter opinions. For example, some parents tell their kids to keep their head down, work hard and power through high school while others tell their children not to take themselves too seriously and to enjoy their high school career. Some may say that treasuring memories by taking pictures is the best way to appreciate the special moments in life while others may preach that the way to cherish moments is to put the camera down and to enjoy it with only your mind. One of these larger differing opinions that has haunted me during my entire young adult life is s whether to "shoot your shot", so to speak, or to stop looking for a relationship and to let it find you.

Recently I have been caught in the messy crossfire of the above statements. Graduation was approaching and as the shy girl that I always am was feeling self-conscious about my high school dating experience. These minimal experiences can barely be called so, but for the purpose of the article, I will refer to these as "relationships".

In theory, my plan was to simply test the waters of both sides of the opinion. First, I shot my shot and snapped a guy that was way out of my league. With a simple "hey dude", I was almost immediately left on read. In retrospect, I realize this "left on read" nonsense was partly my fault because of my lack of a worthy conversation starter. Despite this, I laughed it off, red-faced and cringing in the privacy of my own car. With that fail in mind, I moved to the other side of the opinion which, by the way, was way harder than snapping a quick pic, adding a worthless caption and pressing the "send" button.

Waiting around for a relationship was excruciating. I felt desperate and lonely. It was almost as if I was stuck looping through my own montage of Netflix, binge shopping online and drinking chocolate milk. This was all until, out of the blue, I received a snapchat from a completely different guy. Was it a fluke or was this guy sent by the gods in order to stop me from my endless wallowing in chocolate milk and New Girl? This guy seemed interested within the first couple of days, but of course, the feeling started to fizzle after he referred to his car as "the greatest machine you will ever lay your eyes on". I don't know why I was immediately repulsed by the statement, but that's beside the point.

Even though neither of these experiences significantly made my life better, it taught me something. It showed me that there is no "right way" to find a guy that you actually like. Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there, even though you may get shot down, and sometimes waiting it out and wallowing a little will show you that being by yourself is okay too. We're only in college after all, those days should be spent finding yourself, not finding someone for yourself.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189459
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14442
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457489
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26435
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments