What did you think about dating and marriage the year before you met “the one?”
Dear 20 year old self,
Congrats on making it to your junior year of college. Also, congrats on the boyfriend! I bet you never thought that that Southern hunk (aka Tennessee) you were chasing around on the cruise ship over senior year spring break would end up all yours huh? How is UT by the way? Transferring to another college all for a guy…..I should scold you, but this ends up being one of the best decisions you ever make.
I am writing because we need to have a serious chat about your idea of “dating.” What the hell are you thinking calling Tennessee 26 times in one night? Are you bleeding/hurt/dead in a ditch? No, you are drunk and laying on your friend’s bathroom floor crying because he isn’t texting you every 5 minutes. This is not how you keep a guy interested. This is how you scare boys away!
Dating Tennessee should be fun, not a constant pity party.
I know that you want to hang out with him all the time. It’s what you did in your last relationship. He isn’t like this though – he needs his friend time – and believe it or not, you need yours. You are wasting your life away….go out and have a girls night! Drink too much and dance to some bad music!
It is okay to be alone too.
Dating isn’t all about being up each other’s ass. There is a little thing called “personal space” that you should try out. And when you get into a fight (which you do often), it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t talk to each other for a few hours…or maybe even a day. You both have bad tempers and you will eventually learn silence and time apart (not yelling or slamming doors) is the key to mending what’s broken.
I know you have been thinking about marrying this guy. He makes your heart pound, your tummy flip flop, and keeps you up most nights (damn you and your obsession with knowing what he is doing every second he is breathing). You have come up with this idea that he should propose to you right after you graduate – that’s a few years away sweetcheeks.
You need to enjoy the time you have together NOW (like in this picture you look so happy – about to grab his butt in public). You are in college! You have a great group of friends together! Go have a Mexican birthday or something… just lay off the serious talk.
Rest assured, you will marry him…someday… but not your senior year of college.
You are not ready for marriage. Marriage is not all unicorns and roses and Reese’s peanut butter cups. It is more than a shiny ring on your left hand. It is hard work! And that, that is why you need to wait… be patient and he will surprise you when you least expect it.
Love,
Your 27 Year Old Self
We were like the same person… I totally did the call/text 200 times too many on the floor of a bathroom. I love all of your pictures, too 🙂
Thanks Amanda! I almost wish we didn’t have cell phones back then haha!
Haha! Pity party of one, please!!! I love these pictures! I wish we had known each other in college! But then you’d be always talking about Tennessee, jk! And I LOVE that we are friends IRL. Move down here already!!!
I love this! So honest! I suffered the same craziness….texting, calling, fretting…
It was so much better when I realized how dumb that was.
Following you now! Nice to meet you!
We have all been there! lol
So happy I was right there by your side during all of this! Hey that orange shirt is MINE! 🙂 xox
Couldn’t have made it without you … You were always talking sense into me! And yah – that shirt – I wish I stole it
love this! Can totally relate with my hubby when we were dating!!
Haha! Cute! I am totally surprised he stuck around after your drunk dialing escapades!! Nice catch!
I know… I guess it was true love!