Dating etiquette

A first date brings about many questions. Who pays?, do we meet?, who drives? The answer is simple, stick to old-fashioned rules. In the dating world, and certainly on first dates, their are major rules of thumb everyone should go by.

Yes, the days of men "bringing home the bacon", and making all household decisions are loooong gone. Woman have as much power as men in relationships, but please ladies on the first date, let him pay for dinner. If he doesn't insist or make the effort to pay, he lacks sophistication.

Secondly if you're date lives within a reasonable driving distance, he should come pick you up for your evening out. He should also come to the door to get you. Dating is an act of courtship, and he should be honored to be going on a date with you. These small gestures indicate that he is a gentleman. Men should also be on time to pick their date up. Being on time shows effort and organization. If you wish to cancel a date, do so within a reasonable amount of time. If your date was that evening and something has come up, cancel that morning, and apologize. This shows maturity.

It is important for men to compliment their date on how she looks. Complimenting shows interest, and that you have taken the time to notice your date and her efforts.

When you arrive at your date destination, it is important to keep drinking to a minimum. You are probably just meeting this person and don't want to come off as a party-animal or avid drinker. Believe me, this type of behavior is not becoming.

Men and women should never lie about anything on a date in order to impress. Remember, you WILL get found out. Also, you should never be rude to your date or others. Arguing with or treating waitstaff with no respect shows you are crude.

You must also be a good listener. It is fine to talk about yourself, but you should be interested in your date, and ask them questions too. If you continue to talk about yourself during the date, maybe you should have just gone on a date with yourself.

Finally, at the closing of your date, make sure she gets home safely. If you wish to see your date again, tell them. Call when you promise to call and do not keep someone guessing. If you don't like your date then don't falsely promise anything or leave the door open for future dates. Again this shows a great disrespect for your date if you do so.

Dating, single, and in-between

Ever wonder when it's time to call it quits in your relationship? How do you know for certain? Well, only you can be the judge of that, and time will certainly tell. Many of us find ourselves trapped in a dead-end relationship wondering what to do next. You have two options 1-attempt to fix whats broken. 2-end it. Ending a long term relationship with your significant other can be much harder than it seems. However, in the long run it can benefit you tremendously. Why hold onto something that just isn't working in hopes of something miraculous to happen. For one, you can't teach and old dog new tricks. Secondly, why compromise your happiness if the flame just isn't there anymore? In the end, the two of you may work it out after some time apart. Time apart gives you a chance to explore new and exciting options, and also for the other person to perhaps "shape-up". As a young adult, we are still trying to figure out who we are, and what we can bring to the world. If someone doesn't appreciate the "you", you know and love, ditch him/her.
Also, you have to know who you are in order for someone else to really understand you. If you have a fear of being single, get over it. You can't explore your true self if you have a fear of being alone! Lastly, don't go looking for love, let it come to you!