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Dos and Don'ts

Dos and Don'ts of Dating

Depending on your background, dating comes differently for all of us, but the underlying fact is you have to know what you are getting into for the rest of your life. So, you have to meet up in some way, shape or form and talk about what the future looks like with this potential person who will affect your life legally, emotional, physically....

***Dos

Do Be Confident: Don't be desperate; otherwise, someone can play you. It is understandable that you want to make a good impression and you want to be with someone, but you also don't want to appear like you don't have options. You want to come across as you know what you're doing and are here for good reasons, and if they can't accept that, then maybe they aren't the right person for you.

Do Be Yourself- Make sure you are comfortable and honest, so you have no regrets and what they see is what they get. After all, relationships are built on trust; you shouldn't hurt anyone but at the same time, you shouldn't hurt yourself. So be who you are and put yourself out there and if it doesn't work out, wait for the right person to come along. You don't have to settle! It's sometimes better to be alone than to be with someone yet you feel alone.

Do Show Interest: When you are with someone, both parties want to feel wanted, nothing sexual, but people want to know they are in the right place and not just wasting their time. That message isn't set when one is talking and you're on your phone or talking to someone else, flirting with a waiter, or have a bored face.... You should dress up but not too up, smile, be nice, don't show up late...because you would want the same.

Do Ask Questions: You should ask questions because you are trying to know each other. If there is evasion, then there is a problem...with honesty, and since it is a relationship, well, you can see where I am heading... That person should answer, though there are things too personal that the relationship has to develop in order to bring in those hard hitting questions. At the same time, you don't pull someone along for the ride by withholding some information over them that you know at the end would make them not want to be in the relationship if they knew. Similarly, your partner should ask questions as it shows interest.

***Don't

Don't talk too much about yourself: You may talk much because of nerves but you don't want to seem self-obsessed, scare them away, or end the date with you knowing nothing about your date.

Don't allow them to get too handsy: Some people may find some light touching okay, but any unnecessary touching can speak volumes. There really shouldn't be any touching. We just met and the first thought you have is to kiss, hold hands, wrap arms around one another...No!

Don't mention past relationships unless they ask and if so, don't dwell: When you are on a date, you don't want your potential partner to think back and all he/she can remember is that the date was basically you who was talking on and on about your ex. They may think you are not over him/her, so there is no point in getting involved with you. First times are supposed to be memorable, fresh, happy, and tingly and talking about someone that isn't even there sends another vibe and it is boredom and irrelevant for the date. You should look forward and make sure you are ready to move on. You don't want them to think: 'Shut up, already.'. It doesn't show interest to talk about your ex and it may bring out more problems and negative aspects about you then good.

Don't be rude or lose control of emotions: because it shows your cards and gives someone a reason to say good riddance. Instead of blowing up from something they did, you want them to know they made a mistake and not to let them think that it's good they just escaped a nut job. It's also not attractive for a first impression, or ever. Who wants to date someone they feel terrible with and at first meeting? You want to keep your wits, assess carefully, and make the right judgement.

Don't ask everything: Some questions are not first date material, and some are just rude especially when you barely know someone, so you don't want to make your date feel uncomfortable or give them a valid reason to leave. That said, asking and answering questions is totally valid because there is a reason we are here together, right?

Dos and don'ts may vary depending on many factors. Ask questions if you have any. Enjoy, comment and vote!