When it comes to romance, sometimes the best thing to do is… whatever the hell you want.
Until I reached the age of 34, I valiantly tried to follow the relationship and dating ‘rules’ I learnt from magazine articles, romantic comedies and my married friends. I didn’t message a guy first; I never slept with anyone too soon; I wore bras and underwear that matched. Where did that get me? I dated all the wrong guys and drank all the wine with all the gay best friends, while I constantly beat myself up for failing in love.
It was only after I started ignoring everyone else’s suggestions that I did fall in love (with a guy so not my type who lives 5 000km away) during a work trip (taboo) after I slept with him on the first date (double taboo; a friend warned me I’d never hear from him again). Three years later, we’re happily married with a baby. I love my love story, and I tell it to show that most relationship advice is for suckers. Listen, I’m no expert on marriage; I’m just a girl who, on the first date, slept with a boy who happened to be awesome. But one thing I do know? Clichéd advice has got to go. Specifically:
“RELATIONSHIPS ARE HARD WORK”
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