Growing up and watching my parents work through their ups and downs has truly taught me a lot about how to handle relationships in the future. My dad was never around much while I was growing up, but it wasn’t until I got older that I started to realize why he disappeared every now and then. It turns out that even though they had a solid relationship, my father had his secrets.
I grew up in an environment where I was taught that lying and cheating is wrong, but it wasn’t until later on that my perception started to change. Having worked through long-distance relationships myself, I know how difficult they can be. But sometimes when you care about someone deeply enough, your feelings override the judgmental thoughts in your head when you notice the other party out of town more often than usual.
It didn’t take long for me to figure out where I had gone wrong and what mistakes I would never make again. For all of you who are in the same boat as me, keep reading to find out Michelle William’s ultimate guide on finding a casual dating partner.
Casual dating is not the same thing as casual sex.
Keep in mind that just because you’re not looking for a husband doesn’t mean that the other person is 100 percent cool with keeping things casual. Many people do want to establish themselves within a serious relationship before they start having sex, so if that’s your goal then you need to be careful. If you just want to fuck free of any commitments, make sure your partner is on the same page
The best way to get started is by going on a date with the other person. Once you guys are using an app, it can be easy to immediately go on a romantic dinner together or text each other back at 2 in the morning after both of you have been drinking through an entire evening. But before you do anything crazy, figure out what type of guy he is by asking questions and getting to know him better.
Casual dating is about getting to know someone and having fun with them before entering a long-term commitment. It’s not fair for either person if someone expects the other to jump into bed without knowing what they’re really like — or even worse, lying about who they are just so that you’ll sleep with them. Casual dating is the best way to find out if you have real feelings for someone, so don’t give it away immediately. That being said…
Always Protect Yourself
There was a guy I met through mutual friends, and after we had gone on several dates together I could feel things getting more serious. After a while of us casually dating, he told me that he wanted to be exclusive and didn’t want me to meet anyone else. Immediately seeing his attraction for what it was, I decided to move on and cut the ties with him.
Don’t let anyone pressure you into doing anything that feels wrong for you, no matter how much they beg or plead. The right person will always support your choices and continue to respect your boundaries even after things get serious between you two. It’s okay if someone doesn’t want to be exclusive, so don’t feel bad if you turn them down.
Also, don’t be fooled into thinking that a guy really likes you just because he tells you that he does. While there is nothing wrong with going on several dates per week, always protect yourself by getting to know the other person in an intimate setting before deciding if they’re worth pursuing. After all, taking things too fast can ruin a perfectly good relationship.
Setting Boundaries
While it’s important to have boundaries, you also need to know when to let them down. Dating someone who is long-distance can be extremely difficult for both parties since there are limited options for hanging out together. While I’ve never dated someone who lives across the country, I definitely wouldn’t even consider doing so until we had already met in person.
With that being said, if you and the other person live fairly close to each other (no more than a few hours away) and have been getting to know one another fairly well, it can be okay to go on a first date with them. But keep in mind that every good relationship takes time and patience, so don’t give up just because you ran into an obstacle.
Finding someone who lives near you is ideal if you’re looking for a long-term relationship, but if that didn’t work out then try finding someone who’s fun to talk with online. If it seems like your conversations are never ending and the two of you have so much to talk about, then you could definitely consider going on a date with them. Just because they might not be around the corner doesn’t mean that you guys can’t have a good time together!
Finally, there are going to be some people who will want to meet up with you either way — even if it’s just for a quick hookup. These people are less reliable when it comes to their conversations, so always remember to set boundaries before even talking to them. There’s nothing worse than getting your heart broken by someone who you thought would be different…
Remember to have fun!
Casual dating is all about getting to know someone better and having fun with them so that you can feel out the relationship. If you’re looking for something serious, then always set boundaries within yourself before even talking to them. Protecting yourself is key in order to find the right person — but once you do, then you won’t have anything holding you back!