All You Need is Love

Well, it’s that time of year again. No, not Groundhog Day ... Valentine’s Day is coming, to the excitement of some and the trepidation of others.

The first clues that Valentine’s Day approacheth are the eHarmony commercials and jewelry store ads. The ads begin just after Christmas to give everyone (men) a heads up that it’s time to start thinking about a gift for their significant other and time for their S.O.s  to anticipate what is being planned for them.

Valentine's Day is synonymous with dating. For some people, dating is new territory, while others are thrown back into the dating scene after a divorce or the death of a spouse. Navigating these waters can provoke breathless anticipation or not being able to breathe.

Just for fun, I checked online dating advice and found no stone left unturned. There is advice on how to behave on the first, second and third dates. Advice on whether or not there will even BE a first, second or third date. An extremely popular topic is communication. When will he call? Why doesn’t he call? Should I call her? Should I text or email? Should I friend him/her on Facebook? Should I tweet about our dates? Is she a stalker? Is he a player?

For those who have been out of the dating game in the safe haven of a committed relationship, it might be hard to recall the angst that accompanies this ritual and you should thank your lucky stars for that!

In addition to the timeless concerns of dating, we must consider a slew of new rules or a complete lack thereof. Who pays for the date? Should men open doors, help the woman with her coat, pick the woman up or meet somewhere? The wrong move by either party could prove catastrophic.

What primal need keeps this roller coaster in motion? After all, the pursuit of love has been around since Adam and Eve. For whatever reason, evidence points to the fact that most people feel dating is worth the trouble.

Otherwise it wouldn’t be so hard to get a dinner reservation on the 14th.