You Should Only Play a Love Game if You're Lady Gaga

Love games. Lady Gaga sings about them, soap operas revolve around them, and teenagers live, breathe, drink, sleep and eat them. For what? Honestly, what does playing games with your significant other (or desired significant other) gain? I remember being sucked into the dramatic world of teenage relationships and thinking, "huh". Luckily, by my senior year, I regained consciousness. Yet, I still know people my age and older who have not broken the cycle they set at fifteen (or ten).

When I was about twenty-two ish, I had a really big epiphany. After thinking about some of my super healthy/super unhealthy relationships, I finally realized the secret...no games. By no games I mean: no bluffing, bribing, faking, lying (unless he or she got a haircut), guilting and anything else your little heart can dream. I have also named this the There's the Door Rule. Be clear in the beginning of a relationship about what I can and cannot offer. I expect the same from my partner. If you're clingy, tell somebody! Don't hide it and then let it all come out in crazy throughout your relationship. Say, "Hey, I am super crazy awesome and admittedly clingy when it comes to relationships. Can you deal with that?" This way, everyone knows what's up and they can decide if they're in or out with all the information. This is where I say, "I love so much space in a relationship you'll probably feel single sometimes." That's cool too!

It's called "There's the Door" because leaving is always an option for anyone. I am not a fan of threatening to leave a relationship or telling someone they can leave unless you mean it. If someone wants to leave...let them! Don't you want to be with someone who...I don't know...wants to be with you????? I sure as hell do! So, if you're threatening to leave, you better mean it. There's the door and please don't look over your shoulder at me as if I'm going to stop you from leaving. I now know that if someone wants to leave, then they should get to leave. Sure, break ups suck, but loving someone who doesn't want to be with you is definitely worse. Talk about a self esteem killer.

So, let's leave the love games to the teenagers/grown ups who play teenagers on T.V.