I've been thinking about relationships a lot lately. Maybe it has to do with the end of another loveless school year, maybe it's the myriad of sappy rom-coms I've indulged in since being home, or maybe it's the constant bombardment of societal pressure to find a partner before I'm past my prime and unfit to be wed. Who knows? Whatever the cause, love (or the lack thereof) has been on my mind.

Just as many college girls do, I recently experienced the Freshman Fling (noun): a whirlwind romance (note: can be one-sided), usually experienced within the first six months of college with a really douchey guy, that ends abruptly and causes heartbreak in one or more of those involved; a crappy experience. My freshman fling left me intensely upset and severely discouraged. I was unlovable. Incapable of maintaining a relationship. I couldn't find anybody I clicked with even on a campus of thousands of people. Nobody would ever want to be with me and I was going to die alone. Or maybe with a cat to ease the pain of rejection.

Thankfully, my parents are much more sensible and objective than I am and came through once again with that parental wisdom they seem to have acquired over the decades. While I've ignored their advice for years, I figured I was in no position to claim I didn't need a few pointers. Plus, what they said was pretty good. They lectured me a little bit about life, and then about love. Below are some of the most important points of their lesson:

Dating is hard, let alone finding a person to date. Just know that if you feel hopelessly inept at relationships, you're not alone! Lots of us (i.e. me) are in the very same boat, but we're all going to be okay. Just trust the process and enjoy the ride. And if all else fails, try getting a couple of cats. I can't promise much, but it's worked for me so far.