Speculating on what a guy should offer (and other nonsense about dating):

• Respect
• Dignity for self 
• Appreciation for the simple things
• Time (You want to meet someone but you rather spend your free time with your bros only?!)
• Honesty (Doesn't play games and doesn't know how to read between the lines but leaves me guessing when things stop working out)

If you don't have these, you are wasting your time!

I may have started this while on a rant, but trust me I am much calmer now.  I have over thought things to death and then some; maybe I should dedicate some of this energy to real problems!

The thing about Tinder and most other dating sites or apps is that they make it easy to find people but to find something lasting takes more than using your finger to swipe right. I have gotten a fair share of matches despite the fact I am super picky with my mom's voice is in my head, I don't why the scene out there is kind of bleak. I never put all faith into these applications anyway because I don't think a few pictures and a few cute messages are going to guarantee anything. It's great if you just want to a hookup, no strings attached, in and out before things get sticky. 

I lived cavalierly in my early 20s and what I used back in those days was POF and  Okcupid. POF was the greasy, dive bar compared to the hip and snazzier lounge that was Okcupid. I totally enjoyed browsing through those profiles when I started off, it was a whole new world for me. POF got boring and annoying really quickly, the features were mostly lacking and the search functions were pathetic. Okcupid on the other hand, was easier to navigate through, even when you weren't looking through profiles of guys aged whatever, you could answer questions on various topics - answers to which would then be used to calculate your compatibility compared to other guys who may have answered similarly. The flaws here would be if you didn't answer enough questions you wouldn't be matched properly and if you answered dishonestly that wouldn't help you cause either. After a while, that got annoying too and lots of guys couldn't be bothered to answer any questions which made things more difficult. As you can imagine, I stopped using that site too.

Anyhow, if dating can be equated to the way one prepares for a marathon then it is because of this - plan which marathon you want to run, how much discipline and focus you need to train and what level you want to get to. I think you get what I am saying here.

Should I give up on dating sites? Sure, save my time for better things like cooking with quinoa and learning to use Creative Suite. But on the other hand, its strangely addictive and when a stranger does decide to send you a message, it's a fun ride to see where things can go and how. I message guys too sometimes; I am not afraid to make the first move. Everyone is on Tinder or Coffee meets Bagel or whatever else is out there. I don't know what to expect; there have been a few disappointments but I don't expect to meet Mr. Right. 

Maybe I sound bitter but it's tough for a girl turning 30 soon to feel super optimistic. I can only keep doing what I think works and work on myself and be the best kind of person that I can be. Things happen when you least expect it - so stop expecting. Just live your life, cherish your friends and family. Be grateful.