Dating??

People (or at least teenagers) don't date anymore. Let me define "date" for you since nobody seems to understand the concept.  By date, I'm not talking about a relationship. I'm talking about "You seem pretty cool. Let's go to coffee so I can get to know you." Nowadays with texting and Facebook stalking, people go straight from friends to boyfriend/girlfriend without that middle part.

I think it is because it has gotten to a point where dating has the connotation of a relationship. It used to just be a thing people who might possibly like each other did, and now it is associated with a deep seated desire of the other person. Plus it so rarely happens that it's a super big deal. I wish it could actually be commonplace. Then it wouldn't be so hard, and after going on a date, it wouldn't be a big deal to just decide to be friends. Because that is the POINT! To know what the other person is like and make that decision.

Most of the guys I know still ask girls out like Jr. Highers. They text them 24/7, then say something cryptic like "let's hang out." Do you want to hang out or do you want to go on a date? Be clear. Honestly, if a guy who I was sort of acquaintance buddies with came up to me and said "I think I might be attracted to you, Let's go get coffee/dinner/lunch/anything," I will probably say yes. Unless I absolutely can say there is no chance in heck that I could ever be attracted to him, or there is some danger in it, or it would upset one of my friends for some reason, I admire the courage it took to ask me, enough to at least give the poor guy a fair shot.

It's like high school is the middle ground of dating...we should be more mature in relationships than Jr. Highers, but we haven't quite reached an adult level. Valerie and I were talking about this very subject on Wednesday and it's irritating. I want to go back to those '90's sitcoms like Boy Meets World where Shaun could just ask a girl to Chubby's without that becoming a marriage proposal. I guess I'm defining "date" differently than a majority of my peers and that makes me sad.

Now, people could say "Sarah, why don't you make this change and ask people on dates?" Because I am a wimp. I don't have the kind of courage it would take to put myself out there. That's why I have a deep respect for a guy who can ask a girl on a date. Even if it's over text. Obviously, there's bonus points for having the balls to do it in person, but honestly, if you feel it...just do it.

It shouldn't be that big of a deal.