That Time I Fell in Love

I fell in love once, and it wasn't with a boy. No, it wasn't a boy that made the butterflies erupt in my stomach or my eyes sparkle with excitement. It wasn't a boy that made the thought of leaving feel like a rock plummeting in the pit of my stomach. No, it wasn't a boy at all.

It was a place. And it was amazing.

It was NYC.

Now, I've been to Paris. I've been to DC. I've been to New Orleans, to Oahu, to the Greek islands, but no place has even come close to NYC.

And that may sound stupid to you. I've been to all of these beautiful and dreamy places, but it's NYC that enchanted me in the end. But it's true. There are no words for NYC. I can try and name a few, but I know I won't even begin to scratch the surface.

Bustling.

Magical.

Thrilling.

Iconic.

Alive.

I know some people say it's too smelly, or too crowded, or too expensive, or overrated, but I didn't get that vibe.

I thought it was almost peaceful--weird as that may be. While I was there, I could finally feel. Nothing was weighing on my mind. I felt alive, and it was the most amazing feeling.

I loved everything about it. The tall buildings, the eccentric people, the shining lights in the middle of the night. The electricity of the city was truly breathtaking.

I've known what it was like to fall in love with places I've never been, but now I know what's it like to fall in love with a place I have been, and I believe it's almost worst. Now, when I'm not in the heart of the city, soaking it all in, and I'm in my small town apartment, the nostalgia hits me like a physical ache. The longing to go back is so fierce I find myself dreaming of a day when I can call myself a local and am no longer a wishful tourist.

One day I will live in this amazing city. You just wait and see.

Love Commandments

Disclaimer: I am NOT an expert on love in any way, shape, or form. 

With that being said, I will say I may be an expert on what does not constitute as love. It seems like I am a magnet for bad dates and jerky boyfriends. So in honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I would share with y'all what I have figured out over the years.

1. If he pressures you, he's not for you.
If a guy respects you, then he will respect your morals. Don't let a guy push you to take steps you aren't ready for.

2. If dating feels more like a game you don't know the rules to, then run. Far and fast.
Dating shouldn't be a guessing game. You should know where you stand with a guy, and you shouldn't have to jump through hoops to figure it out. Healthy relationships don't stem from playing games.

3. Don't just date someone because you're lonely or just because a guy is interested in you. That's not fair to you or the guy.
Being bored is never a good reason to start giving that one guy that has liked you for years the time of day. With Valentine's Day (ahem, Single Awareness Day) coming up, it's understandable that many girls start feeling lonely around this time. But don't just jump into a relationship because you don't like being alone. That's not a good basis for any relationship.

4. If he tries to guilt trip you into doing things, then he's a douche. It's as simple as that. 
One of my ex boyfriends would try to get me to do things with him that I wasn't comfortable with by comparing me to his ex girlfriend or saying that all other girlfriends do things like this and don't complain about it. All this resulted in was making me feel really self conscious and unsure of our relationship.

5. If he describes all of his exes as "crazy" then chances are he's the crazy one. 
Um, what's the common denominator in all of these relationships? Him! A guy like this is delusional and immature. Don't fall for it.

6. Don't confuse a hook up for a budding relationship. 
Sometimes, a hook up will result in a relationship. I have 2 friends that are in committed relationships with guys they first started hooking up with. But that is college dating, which is way different from dating in the real world! Some good ways to tell if he's just interested in you as a bed mate would be if he only acknowledges you when he's drunk or at night, he flirts with other girls, your "dates" consist of hanging out at his place and making out on the couch, or he's had relationships in the past, but he makes no effort with you to indicate that he would want to move into dating territory.

7. If your friends and family don't like him, then there's a problem.
These people have your best interest at heart. I know while in a relationship sometimes women are blinded to their significant other's issues. Take into account what your loved ones are saying. In the end, they just want you to be happy.

xoxo