There is a plethora of myths about love and dating that have been passed down through the centuries between girlfriends and frat boys.
Remember there used to be a rule about waiting three days to call someone after a date? Imagine if everyone lived like that. Most of us would have never been born.
Whether you heard one from your aunt, a rom-com, or society itself, dating myths are usually generalized claims about dating and love that are only accurate to specific people, if any at all.
Dating myths are rules and claims about dating, romance, and love that are completely fabricated. You’d be better off forgetting them moving forward.
Here are 7 hugely false dating myths you need to banish from your mind:
1. Never have sex on the first date. This is a sexist and outdated idea. It says that having sex on the first date means you are easy and not worthy of respect. This is just old-fashioned and wrong. Dating whether casual or serious is about being yourself and that includes your sexuality whatever that may be.
2. The internet has ruined dating. Sure, cat-fishing and the Craigslist killer give online dating a bad reputation. As someone who met her boyfriend online, it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But, 20% of current couples have met through online dating.
3. You’ll always love your first love. Sure, you’ll always have the memory of your first love just like the memory of your first kiss or your first car or your first plane ride. But, we over-romanticize our first loves, which usually were puppy love when you look back.
4. When you meet the one you’ll know. I told myself this for a long time because so many people repeated it to me during my single days. They said you’ll just know. And the thing is, I didn’t. Sure, some people have that love at first sight feeling, but that isn’t how it will work for everyone.
5. Marriage is the goal. Not everyone wants or needs to get married, and that is okay. Not everyone needs a monogamous relationship and that is okay. Marriage is not a measurement of your success.
6. You’ll find the one when you stop looking
How did so many people meet their person online if they weren’t looking? This makes zero sense and is meant to help you relax about being single. There is nothing wrong with trying or looking if that is what you want.
7. Love conquers all. This may be the biggest myth in all of love and dating. Love is strong and amazing. It can do a lot, but it is not everything. If love conquered all, no one would divorce or break up or cheat.
Love is not always enough. You can love someone and not trust them. You can love someone and cheat on them.
