Dating: Open to Interpretation

DATING: OPEN TO INTERPRETATION

It’s me, Annie.

Welcome to my awkwardly fun and sometimes infuriating dating life. I’m here to prove there is life after a serious relationship. There is MORE LIFE and MORE LOVE, after love. It may not always be successful, it may more weird than it is romantic, but then again awkward is my game, so stay tuned.

I know what you are thinking. Here is yet another girl telling her story about a broken heart and trying to find her way again. But I am here to tell you that while, yes that is very much true, my story is different. Why you may ask? Because it’s MY story and to me, it’s not about changing the lives and minds of thousands of people. Instead this story is about healing from the inside out and hopefully, maybe helping a few others along the way. If you can relate, I’m here for you. If not, then maybe at the very least you’ll get a few good laughs.

So you’ve been dumped. Kicked to the curb. Told in not so many words, that you just weren’t “enough”. It sucks. Actually, it worse than sucks. It is crippling. I’ve been there…or rather I am there right now. I am living life after a serious relationship and I can’t decide which is more painful, getting dumped or entering the dating world yet again. I am beginning to think it is the latter.

I am going to be honest. Dating in the 21st century is dreadful. My friend said it best when she said, “cell phones ruined everything”. Dating has now resorted to apps on phones where everyone has learned to hide behind a witty bio and filtered photos. We judge a person based on the level of humor when they describe themselves and swipe left because their photo looks too staged. We’ve never spoken to this person or seen how they conduct themselves in a social setting, yet we decide then and there if we want to chat with them.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that the first step before you even decide to talk to someone is based off of physical attraction, whether your hiding behind a phone screen or a pillar at a bar. But in today’s society, we base our decision off of mutual physical attraction and then we set into a cyber world of texting conversations.

Let’s be honest, can it get any more awkward? “Hey, I have no clue who the fuck you are or what you like, but I think you’re good looking, in your filtered photos at least. Want to text?” How the fuck are you actually supposed to get to know someone when this is how modern dating is happening?! What ever happened to saying hey to someone on the street, or in a restaurant, or in a classroom? I don’t think it is too much to ask to want to meet someone naturally out in society but in our modern days cell phones rule the world and no one looks up from their phones long enough to actually meet someone outside of online dating apps. All of this coming from a girl who is sitting behind a computer screen writing about the confusion of online dating. Ironic? Well, take it for what it is.

Don’t get me wrong, I am among the online app daters because I figured if you can’t beat them, join them. In all of this crazy, strange modern century dating, I still refuse to believe that all chivalry is dead, but like my friend said, cell phones ruined everything. So nevertheless, we give it a shot and attempt to get to know the person beyond the iPhone screen in hopes that it will lead to a once in a lifetime romance or at the very least, a funny story to tell all while you swear you’ll never do it again.

Until next time.

Annie Katherine