Dating in your 20s can really show you who you are as an individual, who you want to be with, and your self-worth.

Dating in your 20s can also be hard and confusing at times because this is the time where most people our age are experimenting and figuring out what and who they want.

Some people in their 20s are really seeking out to find that person they want to marry and be with. These are the people who are dating to marry. I have a couple of friends in this stage already.

While others our age are just having fun and not worrying about who they will end up marrying. These are the type of people who may or may not have a partner or those who are just casual with someone with no strings attached, i.e a friends with benefits situation.

Either or is fine, you just have to be straight up. What I mean by that is literally saying what you want before things continue on.

For example, say you are that person who is more of the causal dater and you find yourself with someone who wants a long-term relationship. Further into that relationship, you tell them that you don’t want anything long term or even short term at that.

Well, that other person’s feelings are hurt because all this time they thought they were going to get a relationship when they didn’t.

Now you all are both alone, until someone else comes along.

This could all have been avoided had you all both been straight up and honest to begin with. If casual dating is all you want, then go be with someone else who is also wanting the same thing.

Same goes for the person who wants a long-term relationship.

I think that is where dating in your 20s can be a mess because of the lack of communication beforehand. At this point, we’re all grown enough to let the other person know what we really want.

Personally, I feel like I’m somewhere in between the two. Generally, I keep my options open (and standards high) when it comes to men, but living in Lexington I have limited numbers in who I am interested in.

Although I do want to find the one soon, I can’t see myself with anyone here long-term so that is out of the question.

As far as short-term or casual dating, I like to be private about that and I feel like Lexington is just too small of a city to try and keep what you want private, private.

I like to go out and flirt here and there, but honestly, for right now, I’m staying with myself and school. That person will come along when the time is ready.

And in my three years of casual dating and one relationship, I still have a lot of learning to do, but I feel like what I have learned going forth will help me and hopefully help whoever is reading too.

Dating in your 20s has all types of anomalies, but it’s up to you to figure out what you want and to have the voice to tell that other person what you want so that there won’t be any confusion down the line.

With the little advice I gave, and your personal experience dating in your 20s will hopefully be easier than before.