Over the last few weeks I’ve beenhaving conversations about the state of dating affairs here in BatonRouge.
In the beginning, I would hearthe same gripes, as before that women were only interested in what you had, andmen were only concerned about what they could get.
Then a bigger picture started todevelop: I saw that many people were concerned about the same things that Iwas. They were finding it hard totake their dating lives to the next level. After living the life of a player or on the reverse side asa prude, many young people find it hard to find a person who fulfills what theyare looking for.
I myself have met people who hadgreat potential and then things soon fell apart due to scheduling difficultiesor we just weren’t looking for the same things.
When it comes time in your ownpersonal life to venture into mature relationships, you must remember certainthings:
1) To get what you want youhave to know exactly what that is. Many people have the same basic criteria for picking a matebut you must have an idea of the small things that matter to you.
You will be destined to findsomeone that is close but not enough to keep your interest.
2) You must be willing tocompromise. Wewould all like to find our soul mate tomorrow but that isn’t always how itworks out.
When you say that you want a girlwho is “about her books,” you have to understand that sometimes those bookswill be more important than spending time with you — that’s something that youwill just have to accept.
3) Communication is thebuilding block of all successful relationships.
You have to make sure that theperson who is lighting your fire has a spark for you and you must also tell aperson what you can offer them and what you expect in return.
4) The most important thing tohave is patience. Many people that have found a successful relationship willtell you that it “just kind of happened.” They say that when they found theirsignificant other, finding someone was the last thing on their minds. Now Iwarn you that these steps have been taken by people who have found long-lastingand fulfilling relationships and like many of you, I have yet to find my”boo.”
So as the semester begins and youare confronted with all the beautiful people here on our campus, I hope thatthese steps will help you find your way to your very own alien of love.
