Recently, dating has been quite the joke in my life.

"Do you have a serious boyfriend yet?"

"Oh, well I guess you're going to have to be that crazy cat lady someday."

These are things I constantly hear at my age from both my family and friends. I know they're all joking, but still...sometimes, it's a hard question to answer.

"Why are you single, honey, you're cute and smart?"

Honestly, I'd love to know the answer to that too, Grandma. When I figure it out, I'll be sure to let you know.

I've met a lot of nice guys lately, so I guess you could say I'm single by choice. The problem is that it all starts out with, "So, I met this awesome guy tonight" and it's become quite the routine for me to retract that statement two days later with a "yeah, nevermind."

Sorry if this is news to you, but I want to be more than the girl you "swiped right" to on the Bumble app.

And despite the contradictory advice that was shared in the late 90s, if you want to be my lover, please DO NOT get with my friends.

We live in a generation where people will tattoo your name on their body and STILL choose to cheat on you. I seriously don't get it. If you have something great already, why would you risk it all on a random girl at the bar because she has double Ds and a fat ass...? Please, enlighten me.

So, it's not that I don't want to date or that no one is interested in me. I've had people offer to take me on dates or to "chill" with them and for some reason, I always find myself saying no. I DO want to hang out and I DO want to meet people, but why can't we do just that?

Why are college girls expected to get with a guy after he simply says hello? Like, no thanks? When you say "hang out" I really want to JUST HANG OUT. It's that simple.

I don't need roses and fancy things, just get off your phone and pay attention to me and we'll be solid.

I'm not into that whole "hit it and quit it" trend that seems to parade its way through every college kid's mind and that's okay.

I'm simply at the age where dating is: "Are we doing this or not? Because I've got shit to do." How crazy is that? We're at the point where we will literally walk away if we're not entertained after two minutes.

I want to date someone that spoils me, always tells me how beautiful I am (even if I'm looking a little rough), and never thinks I've had enough to eat. And I want him to want that from me too.

I'm not asking for a marriage commitment at first sight, but I am allowing myself to ask for somewhat of a commitment. To any potential future boyfriends who may be reading this, I don't want to date right away either. Why is it so hard to take it slow? Can't we just hang out for a while before we 100 percent have a title? And during this stage of "talking," can we build an actual relationship and actually LEAVE THE COUCH?

So yes, I am single and no, I will not settle for some flirty DM that's most likely some sexual response to a picture I recently posted. I'm not ashamed to live differently than some other girls and actually give a damn about who I give my attention to.