No "DTR" required...

Do you want to be my girlfriend?  Check  ____yes     _____no

Did you ever get a note like this when you were in school?  Actually when I was in school, the question was 'will you GO with me'?  Don't know where we were going....but that was the question.  I went with several different guys before I met Kyle.  There was Robert K in Kindergarten and Danny D. in Jr. High.  I was asked by Michael B, but it was more like holding hands with my cousin or something, so I said no.  I went with Andy W and  loved him like a 13 year old would.  We talked on the phone and saw each other regularly, despite the 30 or so miles between us.  I was his girlfriend as evidenced by the FFA jacket I wore of his daily like a badge of honor. This was before cell phones or texting. Life was so much simpler then!!

Fast forward to today. When a relationship is everyone's business in seconds with two clicks of a keyboard, life is so complicated.  When a change 'into' or 'out of' a relationship can be 'liked' by so many, the rules change.  Suddenly the whole world (FB world anyway) gives approval of a person's personal lives.  Instead of one or two friends that might have the ear of a girl or guy, offering advice on how to handle the relationship, you now have inserted hundreds.  Talk about complicated!

I have seen this relationship status change affect people.  It gets really hard  when you can see someone move on.  The ex gets hurt and the one moving on is stuck trying to be sensitive to everyone.  Don't post too many pics...try not to say too much on the new person's wall...do I hide the ex?  So many questions!  FB once again has changed the world.    What if we could get past some of that?  What if a couple could reach a place where they realize that it is not the business of everyone else  whether they are in a relationship or not?  What if they could reach a place where they realize they do not have to have the approval of their peers to spend time with each other.  Imagine the freedom of not caring about the stamp of approval of others.  That is progress!

Defining the relationship (DTR) is often more important to outside people, rather than the two that are dating.  It is not really required if the heart is involved, only if everyone else is.  I think that to have surpassed the "relationship status" button on FB is a great sign of maturity.