I have said this many times before, and I have no problem admitting this once again from the start– I am not a fan of dating with a mission. While I am all for knowing your must-haves and can’t stands, I really dislike the notion of dating with an end-game in mind. The problem I have with this theory is that I think people run the risk of letting the desired result cloud their judgment. People who want to get married, want to have kids, want to be done with 20 questions, may dismiss perfectly good people if they are not on board with their timeframe. So, let’s take a deep breath and think this through.
Pros of Dating with a Mission:
1. You aren’t going to mess around with players or ones that just want to casually date (unless of course, that is the mission);
2. You will focus when you come across a decent candidate;
3. You should be able to clearly identify your priorities;
4. You won’t be wasting other people’s time and money;
5. Commitment should not be an issue, at least on your part.
Cons of Dating with a Mission:
1. You may come across as too rigid or scare people off.
2. When you are too focused on the end, you may not allow yourself to enjoy the journey.
3. You are less open-minded when you are on a mission.
4. You may prematurely close off some options. Some may just need more time to catch up.
5. You run the risk of being sorely disappointed when things don’t go according to your plan.
It is hard to believe that this alpha female is so carefree when it comes to dating, but that is because I’ve already accomplished my mission– I already walked down the aisle and was with my partner for 12 years; we had a child together, and I’m no longer in the business to breed. At this point in my life, I think it is okay to just have fun– as long as you are responsible about it. Be honest with the other person about where you are in your journey, and if they can ride along side you, great. If not, don’t despair, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Have fun fishing!
By Regina A. DeMeo
