The Pink Bible (part one)

I've always loved dating! From the "What do I wear?" anxiety right up to the awkward door step scene, I actually enjoy every minute of it. And no, I'm not being facetious. I've been so blessed since I've been home from my mission to go on a ton of dates. Really. It hasn't been unusual to have multiple dates a week. But it didn't start out like that at all.
*Flashback*

I'd been home from my mission for at least four months and I'd gone on only one date. A date that had been set up by my aunt, so it had nothing to do with the fact he thought that I was cute. So here I am, a girl who wants to date and is not; I spent Fridays moping with ice cream and chick flicks. I spent much time complaining and feeling hurt that I wasn't "pretty enough" or liked by guys.

Well, it was one of these pity-party moments that revelation came to me. Do you ever get answers that you hate? Yeah, this was one of them. The conversation in my head went like this (add a whiny sound to my dialogue):

"I want to go on a date!"
"Then change it."
"But I can't."
"Yes you can. Just ask someone yourself."
"But boys are supposed to ask me!"
"But they aren't. Your options are: be dateless or take action. Your choice."

You mean I can't expect other people to make me happy?! Novel idea. So I weighed my options and chose to get rid of my self pity. I started asking guys out on dates! At first it was scarier than anything to ask someone on a date. Now, it still is, but I have more hope in a positive answer.
But I'm so grateful for the chance of being the one to ask. I understand how scary it is for guys to ask out girls. They have just as much anxiety over dating, if not more, than us girls. It's hard planning something that would be fun, impress the date, and give a good chance of getting to know each other.

But something else happened when I started asking guys out: guys started asking me! It turns out that it's a conditional promise for me. Because if I just ask one or two guys a month, I'm rewarded four-fold :) When I stop asking guys, they stop asking me.

Now I know that this isn't the case for every girl. But I've learned that if we want something we have to put in some effort. We can't sit and complain anymore, but we have to jump up and act. And we can't expect it to be easy.