No Hoping Allowed

My friends are the dating gurus, or at least they think they are. More importantly, they think I am absolutely clueless when it comes to dating. I will admit I am partially to blame. Sometimes I enjoy playing “clueless” with folks. It makes them relax, and the expressions on people’s faces when I go into “clueless” mode are priceless. Lol!

Anyway, my friends have taken me on as their project. They have decided to give me the keys to a successful dating relationship. Here are five tips that they have shared with me recently:

Tonza, do not go into a dating situation “hopeful”.

In my Awkward Black Girl voice, “WTF”?

Tonza, Iyanla Vanzant said that too many women go into dating situations hoping: he is the one, they will have a future together, and he will ask her to marry him.

Okay, okay, I get that to a degree. It is a little weird to go out on your first date and have visions of you in a wedding gown walking toward this dude. Well, totally weird.

Basically, I hear you saying that I should waste my time and energy going out and getting to know someone while being “hopeless” the entire time. I really hope I don’t like you! I really hope that we don’t have to do this again! I really hope that you don’t intellectually stimulate me! I really hope you don’t make me laugh! I really hope you say something so ignorant that I have to wonder why I agreed to go out with you in the first place!

Really???? Are you kidding me? How is that fun!

Tonza, can you leave the “man repellent” at home this time?

So there are not a lot of men beating my door down asking for dates. I always seem to get approached by the “keep it moving” guys. A “keep it moving” guy is a guy that decides to approach me as he is leaving, saying something slick like, “Ma, I was checking you out, and I just wanted you to know that you are fine.”

Okay, so what is the point of telling me that as you are walking out the door, we will likely never see each other again. And, did you just call me “Ma“?

Of course, my friends say this is ALL my fault because I always spray on my “man repellent”! According to them, whenever I am in a situation with men around, I subconsciously give off the “don’t even think about talking to me” vibe. I don’t smile and look inviting.

Okay, okay! Maybe that is true to an extent. But isn’t there something sexy about that dude with enough machismo to approach you anyway? Or, as another friend put it, whose “confidence is so on fleek” that he doesn’t even smell the repellent.

Silence in the room as they give me the LL Cool J face and make me think about that for a second. LOL!

Tonza, please make sure you stay dialed down to 2 during this “hopeless” get to know you phase.

You know your personality can be…SIGH… overwhelming, and you will scare the poor guy away. And, definitely none of that “Change the World” talk during this phase.

Yes, my bestie says I am usually on ten and overpowering. According to her, it is frightening and will turn guys off.

But isn’t the point of dating to get to know people and figure out if there is someone out there that can deal with my ten personality? My friends love me at ten, so why wouldn’t my man?

Tonza, OMG, seriously?  We are your friends!!!! Men don’t connect with women like that! Not in the initial phase anyway!

Okay…

Tonza, men like it when you are interested in the things they are interested in.

Focus on their interest.

Okay….I can do that.  I like getting to know people, and I like for people to get to know me.

Tonza, you aren’t listening! Men like it when you are interested in the things they are interested in. I did not say anything about them being interested in the things you are interested in. That’s what your friends are for!

Okay, so basically, you’re saying I shouldn’t even bother to talk about myself. And, if I slip up and tell him about what a shitty day I had, I shouldn’t be offended when he looks at me, smiles, and proceeds to talk about his plans for the weekend? And I shouldn’t be offended because I am supposed to only be focused on making sure I show interest in the things he is interested in?

RIGHT!!! YOU GOT IT! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU TONZA! (my bestie would totally say this is NOT what she meant! lol!)

Tonza, you don’t have to be clear on everything while getting to know someone, just relax and go with the flow.

Clarity is not always necessary!

RME (rolling my eyes). WTF does that even mean? Who wants to stay confused and in the gray zone when it is not necessary? There is too much in life that I am already confused about. I do not want to be confused about what is going on during the “hopeless” period of getting to know someone. And, wouldn’t clarity at this stage help me figure out if I am even trying to move to the “hopeful” stage?

Geez, my heard hurts. I am just going to have a glass of wine and lay on the couch!!

Does anyone else have some friendly dating tips they would like to share with me? Of course, feel free to keep any of these for yourself! I’m sure my friends won’t mind 🙂

-Until Next Time

(This post was meant to be fun! If you are angry after reading it, you are taking yourself way too seriously.)

Much Love,

Tonza