I am well aware of the stigma "the talking phase" has. Many people think it is just communicating by technology. It is a way out of not committing, and it is often thought of just a waste of time. But I am here to disagree.

I met a guy. He is a great guy and an even better person. He is a guy that is different from any other guy I ever talked to before. Yes, I could continue to say a bunch of cliche things about him, and I could make this post something one would want to read off of a Pinterest board. But I won't. Here is the truth:

I don't want to date him just yet, and here an even bigger truth, I may never be his 'girlfriend.' Now don't get me wrong, I hope to very well be his girlfriend someday, and I will be disappointed if there comes a time that we decide to end things. But, not being his girlfriend doesn't mean I mean nothing to him. He remembers and cares more about things in my life than one of my past boyfriends who claimed to "love me." I know he likes me. He knows, I like him. But we just aren't ready.

I often ask, "What's the rush?" When I hear girls talk about rings, marriage and children. Yeah, I want all those things, but I have my whole life to settle down. Right now, I need to focus on me, and he needs to focus on him. I love being alone, and we will never get these selfish years back. Living with your best friends, nights you can't remember and spending hours on end in the library is what this time in our lives are about.

Then I also get asked, "How can 'talking' make you happy?" I look with a weird stare, and think in my head, "How can't it make me happy?" If he can't make me happy now, what ever makes one think it will get better when the time of dating comes around? I laugh now more than I ever did when I was dating someone. I am appreciated more than I ever was before, and to me, that is what matters the most. I get excited every time I get to see him even if it is only for 5 minutes.

I have had my share of heartbreaks, and he has, too. It happens. Our exes aren't bad people. They played a major role in our lives, but for some reason, it just didn't work out.

By now, I know he won't intentionally hurt me, and if he does, he isn't the guy I thought he was all along.

If I didn't see this going anywhere, I wouldn't be here. If this wasn't what I wanted right now, I wouldn't be here. If I didn't trust him, I wouldn't be here. If I knew he didn't care about me, I wouldn't be here. If I didn't have a great time every time I was with him, I wouldn't be here either.

I always say, "You are just a bonus. A really great bonus." My life was just fine before I met him, and his life was just fine before he met me. If something were to happen I know we both would be just fine as we were before this whole thing started. He doesn't need me to always being there. I don't need him to always be there. Yeah, we both may want each other to be there, and the intention is always there. But sometimes it just doesn't work out. He is busy. I am busy. I cannot make him my first priority. I care a lot as he does, too. But I am not stopping my life and what I want to do just for him. Because what if this doesn't work out? That's another truth and the reality, it may not. We can try as we are, but here is another cliche thing to say, "If it is meant to be, it will always find a way." And that's the biggest truth of them all.

My point is, taking our time is fun. Talking is fun. My favorite part of this whole thing is that he became my friend before anything else. We have to try for each other, and we have to put in effort for each other. Just right now where we are at, we can't put in all the effort we want to. He can't be my first priority as I can't be his first priority. And, it is not a bad thing. It may be bad timing, but at least it is worth it. He is worth it.

I am just not ready, but I still like him.