Seventeen Thoughts That Run Through Your (or MY) Head on A First Date

I have been called a serial first dater so many times. Dating for me is like one of those things that I need to tick off on my yearly to do list, like: travel ✔️try a new workout ✔️lose a few kilos ✔️ go on a date ✔️✔️

As I always explain when people ask me why I’m single, I don’t necessarily feel like I’m somehow less just because I’m not one half of a couple. I do my own thing and live my life the way I want it to, not as society expects me to. But every now and again I do feel like it would be nice to have someone to share these experiences with and so commences my annual dating bonanza, a series of first dates that never really lead anywhere.

I think bad dates are a universal experience. I certainly have my share of stories to tell but apart from the initial apprehension, I do enjoy meeting and getting to know someone. Here are some of the thoughts that inevitably run through my head on a first date:

1. Oh God, what am I going to wear?
2. Hair up or hair down? Hair up makes me look more chic but hair down hides the fact that my face is as big as the moon. What to do, what to do?
3. Am I wearing too much perfume?
4. God, let this case finish early so I can get out of the hospital with enough time to freshen up.
5. Why why why did I schedule a date on a work night?!
6. Damn, I should have taken the tube instead of the bus.
7. Please Lord, let him look better than he does in the photos.
8. Oh, and please don’t let him be a psycho.
9. Okay, he’s attractive enough. I can work with this.
10. Hmm, has a sense of humour. Great.
11. Would it look bad if I get another glass of wine?
12. Why do first dates in this country mean just drinks? I’m really hungry and could do with some food.
13. Pace yourself, anj. You know you have to drink water in between liquor so that you don’t get too drunk.
14. This date is going better than I thought it would.
15. Yes, there is definite second date potential here.
16. Ah, the goodnight kiss.

And depending on how well number 16 went….
17. Please let him text me. I really like this guy.
Hahahahahahaha

I don’t know why I constantly find myself on a first date situation. It would be nice to try a long-term thing for a change but I’ve come to accept that if its not in the cards for me, I’m gonna have to learn to deal with it. The one thing I don’t want is to feel pressured to settle just because society dictates that women have to be married at a certain age. Don’t ever settle, people. The kind of love we’re all looking for is worth the effort, the wait and the endless first dates.