Member-only story
Why Romance Gets Better When You’re Older
You’re no longer deluded by what’s hot and what’s not
When I was a sophomore in college, I dated a jock for a short period of time. He was really rather beautiful, and that is why I agreed to go out with him. Plus he was a really nice guy.
We’d go on long walks together because the weather was nice and we both liked to be outdoors. What I didn’t expect — the envious stares from other women (and a few men!) when we strolled together in public, our arms linked or our hands meshed together.
He was a pleasant fellow and I liked his company but… there was something missing. He wasn’t as bright as the men I usually dated, and our sense of humor didn’t mesh.
After a few weeks, he broke up with me. Because he was a nice guy, he was sad about it. I was less sad. I knew we weren’t right for each other but I had been reluctant to hurt his feelings because, after all, he was a real sweetheart. So I didn’t mourn the breakup, particularly since we agreed to stay friends. I wanted the best for him, but also for me.
That was the first, but not the last, time that I realized that dating based on what society tells you is hot and what is not is a fool’s game.
