However, in between the yes', nope's and Heck ya's, there is a gray zone; a particularly uncomfortable area that I like to call the Maybe Zone. Maybe's, I'm not sure's and I don't know's reside in this wasteland. Here, dwell lost causes, unresolved issues and generally the unknown. Among the lost causes, you may encounter our opinion of Britney Spears, the justification of the war in the Middle East and, my least favorite, Friends with Benefits, or what I like to call FwiBs.

Granted, the decision to be FwiBs is a definite yes or no, the consequences in the long run may exile, one or both of the parties involved, to the Maybe Zone. Sure, the idea of having a party pal, study buddy, bedfellow and completely non-exclusive companion all-rolled-into-one can sound very appealing; but the honest truth is that it never stays that way for long. Eventually, our feelings change, circumstances change and we are left with a FwiB that is still enamored with the idea of the convenience of it all and not enamored with us! Somehow our once symbiotic relationship has become somewhat parasitic

is important to consider the reasons as to why we would have ever chosen that particular individual to be our FwiB in the first place. If we compare it to the list of what we would look for in our ‘ideal love interest' we can see that there are not many discrepancies. In fact, the checklist of our desired traits in our ideal love interest may all be checked, except for that one box at the bottom; the one that reads "Looking to be in an absolutely fabulous relationship with that special somebody and not in some dead end FwiB situation where someone is bound to get hurt."

However, this epiphany marks progress. Eventually, we will also come to confess our own self-loathing; an admittance that the only thing preventing us from kissing our FwiBs good bye and leaving the Maybe Zone, aside from our FwiBs inability to reciprocate our feelings, is truly our desire to steer clear of their No-zone. In this case we put into play a defense tactic of making a conscious decision to stay in the Maybe Zone in order to ensure that we don't have to hear them tell us "No."

Consequently we get stuck. We begin lying to ourselves and others that we are too busy for a real-ationship and that we love our FwiB situation. Lies, all lies…and it seems as though our FwiB has become a total fib!

It's hard to say what to do from the realization that our FwiB was fun and maybe a little foolish and that the Maybe Zone is awful, however, we must remember the essentials of life: yes' and no's.

We need to ask ourselves if this friend is really beneficial? Will this FwiB relationship ever be what we are searching for? Can our FwiB reciprocate the same emotions? If the answer is no to at least two of these questions, it is definitely time to pack your bags and make a decision!

We all crave companionship. Sometimes our search for that perfect somebody turns into an almost perfect anybody. We allow the extent of our relationships to be a late night rendezvous, a non-committed companion, or a one way ticket to the Maybe Zone. Although, at times in our lives this is a convenient solution to finding some companionship, ultimately we may want something more. The shelf life of a FwiB, generally is fairly short and when the fun is over it's time to leave the Maybe Zone. Don't dwell, don't hope that loyalty to the Maybe may give us a pass to the Yes. So, now I'm asking you, is your Friend with Benefits Beneficial?

Courtesy: jeani

Carefully considering a summer romance may be the best way to prevent heartache later on. If you have just completed high school, you should feel very proud of yourself. You have achieved one of your major life long accomplishments. You have set goals for yourself and have completed them. Your life is full of hopes and dreams and with firm dedication and commitment, you will see your dreams come to pass. You may decide that a summer romance may cause too much distraction for your overall long-term goals. If so, that’s ok. That doesn’t mean that your summer has to be spent inside with soap operas and the only hopes of seeing the opposite sex is when the pizza delivery guy makes his Friday night rounds. You can still have plenty of fun while laying low in the romance department.

You may find that double dating is a great way to keep things from getting serious since you know you will be leaving for school. When asked on a date, make sure to specify immediately that you prefer to double date. This is a great way to ensure that you have plenty of fun during the summer while making sure that you keep a good distance. The last thing that you need when starting school is a broken heart.

Remember, there is always time for true love, and if you just so happen to meet your soul mate during those summer months, then it will stand the test of time. By starting things off slowly, making sure that you spend your summer dates with lots of friends, and staying focused on your goals, you can ensure that you won’t attend school with a head full of dreams and a heart full of pain. Also, you should realize that when you get to school you will meet so many new people, experience wonderful things that you’ve never encountered before, and the opportunity for building long lasting relationships will be abundant. Though a hot summer romance may be tempting, it is best to play it cool and take things slow.

Often times, women feel attached and open themselves up to someone that just wants to hook up (this can happen to a guy as well). Whatever the case, be sure that you do not become brokenhearted because you failed to discuss the situation before it occurred. Communication is essential in the beginning stage of any type of relationship in one's life.

While hooking up can be a liberating experience for many, it may not be healthy for one's growing stages. It may teach you many things about what you enjoy and what you don't – as well as helping you gain self esteem. However, don’t’ allow these situations to define who you are. Don’t gain a reputation as someone that you're not simply because you decided to try something new. Go forth with respect for yourself as well as the others involved.

Hooking up may be a starting point for moving on with dating. It may allow some people to get close to others again and be intimate. To some, it's a mind distraction; to others, it’s simply a way to pass the time between relationships. Regardless, be sure that you understand the intentions of the other before embarking in this personal situation. This conversation could spare hurt feeling in the future.