I wasn’t allowed to date until I was 16 but ended up going on my fist date 3 months before my birthday. This was because the guy was moving out of state and my parents reluctantly allowed me to go. I am 42 now and have never been married. That’s a lot of dating. I have seen the good, bad and ugly of relationships. And I have learned a lot over the years.
My current boyfriend is amazing. He doesn’t play games. He actually puts forth the effort and tells me, on a daily basis, that I am beautiful and amazing and totally worth it. I am thriving under the light of his wonderful attention and affection. I wonder how I forgot that this is what dating is supposed to be, that this is how I am supposed to be treated? My current relationship is teaching me things that I didn’t realize I had forgotten. Like how I should be treated.
Somewhere along the way, dating became more of a game than a pleasure. It seems that it’s about getting all that you can, when you can, while putting forth as little effort as you can. When we women have men with this attitude from which to choose, we get discouraged by the lack of options and try to choose the lessor of many evils.
Ladies, Steve Harvey has it right – when a man really wants you, there will be no question. I think back to all those guys that used to drive me crazy making me wonder if they were really interested. Or that I was doing something wrong. Maybe that was the reason why they weren’t calling like they said they would, or didn’t seem interested, or would make an ambiguous date, then never follow through.
Stop wondering. Because if you have to wonder if he is interested, then the answer is No. It doesn’t matter if you call or text him. If he wanted to be with you, he would have already set up the date.
Easier said than done, right? Because we are taught that if we have these high expectations, then we are demanding, and bitchy, and manipulative. No, we just know our worth.
I have had men who would text me (first of all, call the woman) and ask me to go out lunch that day…when I would accept and ask where…they wouldn’t respond. Until a few weeks later when it’s the same thing all over again. No, he didn’t get too busy, his phone didn’t break, he wasn’t sucked into a vortex where no communication was possible. He just wasn’t really interested. So why text at all? Who knows. Maybe he wanted to keep that door open, or wanted an ego boost. He definitely didn’t want to go to lunch.
The guy I dated before my current boyfriend actually made me feel guilty if I even thought about asking him to help me with anything – He was healing from a woman who used him 3 years ago, so he couldn’t do anything for me. I made the mistake of saying he could use my boat anytime he wanted if he would let me use his truck to pull my boat to the marina. I was promptly accused of making my boat and all maintenance his responsibility. If a man in interested in you, there will no excuses or strange accusations. If a man is interested, he will want to spend time with you, and he will care enough to help out when you need it.
My current boyfriend is amazing. He sees projects that I cannot do myself, and he fixes them. I don’t even have to ask. He just rented a Rug Doctor and cleaned the carpets in my house because my family is coming to visit. And because he said I “should live in pretty.” Wow, what a difference.
I have dated men who refused to introduce me to any friends and family, while telling me how much they liked and cared for me. My current boyfriend has introduced me to all of his friends and family. Because he wants me in his life, because he wants me to see from who and where comes. And he is interested in meeting my friends and family too. He wants to know my people. And a man who is truly interested in you, will want to know your world and your people too.
There was a man who made a date on Easter with me….and was a no show. Contacted me a few weeks later like everything was fine. Then there are the guys who just wanted me to “come over and hang out”, but were never willing to drive to see me, or take me out. Stay away from them, they are lazy and place no value on you or your time.
I think back on all the times I questioned if I was doing something wrong? Women are taught that if you keep getting disappointed in dating, you are the one common factor. So take a look in the mirror and find your fault. Well, it wasn’t me, it was them. Mostly. The only thing I wasn’t doing, in my worn and weary and discourage mindset, was remembering my worth. Because I didn’t want to seem demanding, or high maintenance, or bitchy, or unreasonable.
The man I am with now, expects me to know my worth, because he sees it every time he looks at me. And he makes sure I know how lucky he feels. And I am lucky too. Because finally, here is a man who sees what I didn’t see in myself for a long time. Dating a good man has reminded me that first and foremost, I am worth it.
Every day I am so very grateful that this wonderful man found his way into my life.
Because I am demanding, and high maintenance and bitchy and unreasonable…But only to those men who are not interested enough to do anything but put forth the least amount of effort possible.
And that is what dating a good man can teach you.
AdaLamar's Blog 