Now that the hookup craze is on the rise, it’s hard to remember the days when people really took dating seriously. In 2015, one-night stands and casual hookups have become the norm and there’s nothing wrong with having a good time, but I don’t want to be Inspector Gadget trying to figure out if the person that I’m seeing is genuinely interested in me. For some unknown reason, there is a major disconnect between our parents’ generation of dating and how it’s done today. Forget about being swept off your feet; it’s the little things you do to show your mate that you’re in it 100 percent that speaks volumes.
If you require further convincing, these old-school dating habits (which are becoming extinct), will prove why we all need to stop trying to be so cool and just be honest about how we feel.
- Courting. You rarely hear this word these days. The “hookup craze” of today is all about being physical, without getting tangled in the emotional. Flip the script and try taking it slow. Whether it’s a candlelight dinner or a walk in the park, make an effort to court your mate — the old-fashioned way.
- Communicate in person. Why hide behind text messages when you can make your date or mate swoon with your charm — in the flesh?
- Stop playing mind games. Old-school romance was all about being transparent with your mate and showing just how interested you were. Nothing is worse than wasting your time and falling for someone who doesn’t feel the same.
- Dance the night away. Stop twerking and learn swing, salsa or ballroom dancing.
- Take it slow. There’s a reason the adage “slow and steady wins the race” is so popular. Instead of rushing into a relationship, give yourself some time to fall in love naturally.
- Be honest. OK, Foxy Brown or Kojak, you won’t need to put your Facebook stalking skills to use and crack his or her cryptic statuses. If you’re not sure if you’re on the same page? Just ask! The only way that you’ll change your relationship status is by making it clear that you want more.
- Be on time. If you say you’re going to show up at a certain time, then ladies and gentlemen, be on time. There is nothing sexy about dining at a table for one, waiting for your date to grace you with their presence.
- Resuscitate chivalry. Let’s be real. Chivalry needs some serious mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. For starters, small gestures (like, not letting the door slam in his or her face) should just be common courtesy — regardless of gender.
- Be yourself. If you seriously want to find the “one,” you have to love yourself first and trust that everything else will fall into place.
–myra c. harris is the author of How to Get a Man: From the Kitchen, to the Bedroom, to the Ring, which can be purchased at www.letaypublishing.com.
