Summer is a time when it's easy to fall in love. The vibe is more laid-back, there are lots of outdoor goings-on, and the warm temperature means fewer clothing and more skin. But the difficult part is figuring out whether your summer romance will last—or go down in history as a fling.
Here's the challenge: In the month of July, I challenge you to ask and go out on at least 10 dates with 10 different men. Yes, you read that correctly, you (the woman) must initiate and ask 10 men on dates. If you do, I predict, your dating life will change, possibly forever.
To many people, the warm weather months can feel like an exciting time to pursue a summer romance or fling. For others, it may just feel like the perfect time for a new start in general—like anything is possible. Essence encourages you to aim for the latter but ditch the first. That’s right; they break down the reasons why you should take a break from the dating scene. My favorite benefit of this “dating sabbatical,” as they call it, is one they compare to the time break you give yourself to check over a paper or presentation. You complete it, then go back to it later and often see all these things (like mistakes) you never noticed before. They say taking a break from dating for a while can also help make things like red flags become easier to see.
Summer Luvin', Happened So Fast!
There have been many things I've always wanted but never had. Money. Jason Bateman's hair. A French girlfriend. A neighbor who grows pot. Skill with a ninja throwing star. I'd trade all of that, however, for a genuine summer romance. A real one—not a regular relationship that happens to begin in summer. A sweaty blur of sex on warm-weather materials (inflatable raft rubber, grass, slip-n-slide, baseball field dirt, etc), a fling that involves crisp white wine, sun-burnt shoulders, and the weird pride that comes with getting sand your orifices. Here's the thing, though! The type of summer romance I'm talking about is actually pretty easy to have, with a little coconut-scented elbow grease. And before you marrieds and coupled-offs think I'm once again giving you the shaft, what I'm about to propose includes you as well. If you're willing to get creative and get a little bit uninhibited, this ride has seats for you and your wedding vows.
Well, good work procrastinating. You may have missed your chance for getting some summer loving. But maybe not. Labor Day hasn't happened, you can still have a fantastic summer fling but it is not going to be easy. Follow these steps and you can cram an entire summer into the long weekend. It is not for the faint of heart, though.
Summertime, and as Ella would say, the rhythm is easy. So keep an eye out and find yourself a fun companion to go and do with these three months. Here are eight date ideas to add to your summer fling checklist. Remember, summer flings are fleeting and you won't have an endless amount of time together. Do grab your calendar and start jotting down some date.
