There is this fact, lie, fictional thought, who really knows? All I know, is that apparently French guys step up to the plate even if you didn’t want to see their plate to begin with. They do not deny themselves the simplest pleasures in life of finding one attractive or acting on it with a simple, “Bonjour.” France, yes, is one of my top travel destinations I have yet to experience. Though this is not a reason why, I can’t say that it is a bad add-on to the ever lengthening bullet point list, right next to pastries and magical architecture. That point? The romance, or at the very least, the attempt of.

Because let’s face it. America boys and gals, you aren’t doing so hot in my field of vision.

I do not believe it is the language barrier.

We stumble over our “Hello,” that right off the bat does not nearly sound as sexy as Bonjour or Bonsoir or Bon...you get the idea- Then after that, we retreat as if an army of angry villagers are about to conquer, when truly, we are the only ones that has anything to gain. So, why not try?

A professor recently gave out the profound advice of how it is the education that matters, not the GPA. Right away, I am sure that everyone in that classroom was calling him out on that crap. Alone in your room late at night alone thinking it over though, let’s be honest, the guy may have a point, and not just on those math problems you have zero chance of ever knowing how to solve. So let me rephrase our quoted professor’s advice. It is the experience that matters, not the result. No matter how much you want a very certain “yes” when you bare your soul asking someone if they maybe sort of want to go out sometime, it is a chance. A chance closer to the result where your over educated mind screams, 4.0! Since without the ask, without that feeling of your chest caving in when the person’s only answer is wide eyes and silence, how will one ever expect to get the result their heart desires?

Let me answer that one for you, they won’t. Not unless we use our words and be truthful not only with the people around you, but yourself. Thus the reason we all need to be more straightforward. Be a little French, even if it starts with catcall of “O la la,” rather than “hot damn.” True love we complain, is so rare, yet we pass the chance of it up without hesitation everyday, even if it isn’t, in the end, meant to be. We let that adorable boy in calculus pass us by. That girl with the cute blouse, for confidence sake no matter who you are, compliment her. Make the world feel flattered until they feel wanted. Until it hits them that maybe the question of “meant to be” does not have to be a dreamt up concept. Until they see that they can accept the love being gladly handed to them.

But you have to extend that hand, first.

There are only the possibility in regrets in life later on. There are already too many the one that got away songs playing over the radio. You don’t want to be on either side of that, do you? Be loud and proud single dating world! I am here for you and all your awkwardness that makes the universe turn. Use your words and speak out for what makes your life sing. Make opportunities for yourself to be taken, and stories to be thought back upon fondly. Go out and conquer the life you imagine whether it be in the most delectable of hidden romances, or to tackle a new passion that makes you who you want to be. You have nothing to lose, only gain.