It's 7:30 PM and you are out with your friends at a hep new place, munching on some good food. The only problem? You are with your friends yes, but you are also with the "guys". No, I don't mean our mutual guy friends. I mean my friends' boyfriends. Such a cute little family right? Except, I am the overlooked middle child in this family. It's not like my friends don't try to involve me, it's just something my single pals would understand because it's a form of unavoidable awkwardness.
When you are the only single one in the group, there may be times when you might feel lonely. Your friends might cancel plans because they want to hang with their boyfriends. You might have this hugely irritating feeling at the back of your mind to just finally give up and find a guy. You might even come off as desperate to others because of this. However, a relationship is a very intimate bond which cannot be rushed. Your gang dating does not mean you have to date too. You must date when you feel like it, not when you are under pressure. You can watch your buddies date and actually learn from the mistakes they might have made in their relationships. That gives you a good headstart and makes you more conscious of what not to do when you are with someone. Relationships are not always as good as they show on the TV, and that is a harsh reality one must realise first.
When you are the only single one in your group, you are the person your friends seek for relationship advice. You are a reliable source that will give them facts they need to hear without sugar-coating anything. You hear all your girls cry over their lovers and you realise the downsides of a relationship. At that point, you feel blessed. You appreciate your decision to not sprint into something so important so fast. In a good relationship, both parties must be mature enough to ride through the ups and downs. Maturity comes with time, not with desperation. In a good relationship, you must try your best to understand your partner's actions. Understanding comes gradually, not by crashing head-on at love's door. In a good relationship, you must love your significant other unconditionally, and for that, you must love yourself first. You cannot give something you don't have. Likewise, you cannot love someone else truly until you fall for yourself. When you take your time with dating, you learn how to respect your boundaries in a relationship and conclude how you can make this rollercoaster smoother for you. You don't date to show people. Those kinds of dates never work out. You should date when it benefits you and makes you happier. You should date for yourself, not for the society. A relationship is not something you must force yourself into. Force yourself to work on yourself and you will naturally find the right person for you someday. Trust me, don't rush into that crush. Rather, date when you get your thoughts straight. Remember, good things come to those who wait.