I have seen the phrase, "If you're not dating to marry, what are you even doing?" and I HATE that. I used to be someone who said that phrase. Why? Why does it have to be on a timeline? Why does anything have to be that serious? Society can get in your head and make you think you have to do everything in order, by a certain time, or else life won't be worth living. It's time for that to end.

I have begun casually dating, nothing serious, just hanging out with people and not putting any pressure on anything. No, this doesn't mean I just sleep around. It doesn't mean anything specific for anyone that does it, casual dating is whatever each individual wants it to be. I don't need to put a timeline on my life, and quite frankly my quality of life has gotten better since making that decision. I used to be concerned that if I didn't get married and have kids by a certain age I'd be missing out on opportunities. While that may be true, it also means I can take on other opportunities in the meantime.

There is nothing wrong with people who start families young, that's their timeline, their story. I am proud of them for loving life and living how they please. I just don't want that lifestyle in the foreseeable future. I love living for me right now, and I want to enjoy that for as long as I can. Whether that be with a partner by myself or not, we will see if the time comes. It is more than freeing to not be tied down to any location or idea of lifestyle. Sure, I'd like to be able to see my family often and spend time with them, but they'll be a plane ride away.

Live for you, in whatever capacity that is. Don't let anyone else's idea of a timeline affect your life. Everything will happen when it is right, you don't have to push it!