The Rebounder. Catching lots of rebounds in basketball is a great thing. In life, however, it's another story - rebounders can really get you hurt. A rebounder is a person who is looking for a light relationship after a difficult break up, but doesn't necessarily know it. They get attached quickly, intensify the relationship, then realize that a) they're single now and want to date around, or b) you're not really what they want. And you're left out in the cold wondering what happened.
When couples break up, there's always one person who says "but let's try to be friends, okay?" And while that's a nice sentiment, nobody really expects it to happen. Ex-couples have a hard time staying friends after the relationship ends - generally there's just too much baggage to start a friendship anew. Every couple knows this and usually expects it to happen...which is why it's so strange and surprising when somebody you're dating is good friends with their ex.
In a perfect world, your partner would have plenty of time to spend with you, and would always make time when you asked for it. Your schedules would mesh, and making time wouldn't be the effort that it is now. Unfortunately, though, things don't work that way. Because even when couples want to spend a ton of time together, they generally can't. Life and responsibilities get in the way, forcing both of you to compromise the amount of quality time you get.
Sometimes, dating feels a bit like playing a child's board game. With every roll of the dice, you take a chance on a new relationship or a new person - and get a chance to create a future with somebody. Unfortunately, though, when those dice roll across the board, they almost never take you to that "happily ever after" square at the end of the game - heck, you're lucky if you roll doubles and get an extra turn every once in awhile.
You think you know how your boyfriend or girlfriend really feels about you. And you're absolutely sure that you know how you feel about them. So...why is saying those three little words so nerve-wrackingly hard? If you love somebody, saying "I love you" should be natural and painless, right?
Sometimes relationships end with a bang. Somebody cheats or makes a grave mistake, and a knock-down, drag-out fight ends the relationship for you. But other times, relationships go out with barely a whisper - and you can hardly tell it's happening at all. These sorts of relationships can sometimes be the hardest and most painful to end. Because when we're in what we think of as a "comfortable" relationship, it can be difficult to acknowledge that, comfortable or not, the relationship isn't working...and that it's time to move on.
Finding a romantic relationship is like a job all its own. You have to be confident and persistent. You have to work hard and not let disappointment slow you down. You even have to research the best dating venues, like online dating sites or singles groups. The whole thing can be exhausting. Which is why the idea of looking for a romantic relationship at work is so appealing. You're already there and you're already working...why not try to find a boyfriend or girlfriend while you're at it?
Dating can be pretty darned funny - in fact, there are whole sitcoms dedicated to all the stupid choices we make in romance. One person's romantic regrets become another's hilarious half hour. But even while we're laughing, most of us recognize (and fear) the bad decisions that we see others make in fiction and in life. Because all of us have made some terrible decisions of our own - decisions that we will always regret.
When you're single, meeting people can be incredibly frustrating. It's just so hard to meet the kind of people that interest you. Going to the bar seems pointless and clichéd. Your friends have already tried to hook you up with all their "you're going to love this guy" or "this girl is totally hot" friends. And speed dating seems like a silly waste of time.
Some women only go after that strutting, slick-haired man, oozing over with confidence and masculinity. Fortunately for the many women who fawn over him, this kind of man makes the whole "I'm interested" thing easy. Want to get him to talk to you? All it takes is a glance and a smile.
