Monday, September 30, 2013

Phases, Short-Term Relationships, and Cuffing Season:


The fall season is here. The leaves are changing, it’s harvesting time, and last but not least, “IT’S COLD”. What exactly does this mean? Well it’s about that time…CUFFING SEASON is finally here. And though some of y’all don’t know what that truly is, basically it means being in a short-term relationship during the months between late September and the Summer. Although those are the main months of getting into a relationship, it also includes the summer on different aspects. Here’s where we draw the line, are the feelings even mutual? Or are the seasons determining your relationships? Our feelings for other people can cause us to go through phases in which I can’t explain so broadly but I hope to get the logistics of it.

 Cuffing season” is a term that is widely known as “During the Fall and Winter months people who would normally rather be single or promiscuous find themselves along with the rest of the world desiring to be "Cuffed" or tied down by a serious relationship. The cold weather and prolonged indoor activity causes singles to become lonely and desperate to be cuffed”. Many times if you look at social media sources, you will see a lot of statuses that reads and hints a person wanting a significant other or those who are single still wanting to mingle. For example,

o   The “Cuddle-Buddy” application will appear on tumblr and Facebook once around this time of the year.

o   Statuses on Twitter that quotes “I’m in need of a cuddling partner for cold nights like these.”

So where does it all begin and how does it all start? From my perspective, it starts right when school begins. Sometimes during the summer usually depending on the situation people are. Take for example early September.

Early September is when we the environment is brand new. Summer has ended, and school has started. Around this time, many people will look their absolute best AKA “Dress to Impress”. In both worlds, Men will utilize this time to look out in who to try to hook-up with. Never will the man pick and choose quickly, however, around the first few weeks is more of getting to know that person. A short term on that perspective is called “Draft season” Men, just know that there will be other guys wanting that exact same girl you look at. So here are two options…

A.    Have options and another plan B,

 or

B.    Step up to the plate and make your move

By mid-September, the text message exchanges will start to begin. Once you start exchanging messages, we start to set up hang-out times and dates.

Now comes October. Around this time of the month, is when the cold air changes. This is when the single ladies are out looking for that guy to be around with. Coffee dates, mid-term study dates, formal party dates, and much more. Men on the other hand, is where it officially begins. If you now are in a relationship, congratulations you have made the top spot on the guy’s

November can be a slightly hectic but most of the time it’s not. The only reason why November can throw things on the edge is because it is thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the time of the year where we begin to meet the family. The problem is, suppose you bring this person to meet your family. Everyone knows that once you meet the family, it’s real. Once you meet the family, consider yourself being asked with many questions regarding the relationship, your life, and everything else. Don’t forget that once you are in a relationship with one person, you are in the relationship of the entire family…It’s sort of like marriage. Ask yourself, are you sure your partner is ready to meet the family? Seems like you haven’t built enough time in the world to do so. I wouldn’t recommend it just yet. But that’s to your own risk.

Now these next three months deal with two things… the holidays and cuddling.
My ideal of a perfect night with someone of course is a movie, cuddling, and a nightcap after a Christmas Party (Drink-Hot Tea, Coffee, Hot chocolate etc.) How romantic is that? Sometimes good holiday music can even brighten up the whole mood with a little bit of Nat King Cole. Can’t get much better than that can it? Now around this time, everyone knows that you two are officially a couple. The pictures show up on Facebook, Instagram, and everyone adores it. Which technically isn’t bad, but now we have to figure out gifts and spending. Dear men, I’m not saying you have to be cheap about what you get for the holidays, but just learn to know what’s valuable, what’s ideal, and what’s the message you’re trying to show your girl as a perfect gift.  I always say that the holiday season, you can buy whatever you want. Now flash forward past January all the way to February, and Valentine’s day is right around the corner.  Dear couples, does it really take ONE holiday to show how much you are in love with that person? You can go ahead and do your usual thing, but realize this, if you are spending something on your partner, don’t be over expensive about it. Men, don’t buy super expensive stuff such as a $300 diamond ring engraved “forever” with the dates of when you two met. That’s also moving a bit fast. Flowers, I’ll recommend it. Clothes? Hmmm maybe!! Chocolate? Certainly. Now I’m not saying don’t buy her jewelry, but don’t buy jewelry with written promises. Jewelry may feel that you’re trying to commit early. Also, how strong is your love at this point? Is three months long enough for you to buy expensive gifts and consider it a great lasting relationship? A lot of times we let gifts feel how lucky we are with that person.

Spring and Summer: Break-up or Make-up Season
As winter season comes to an end, brace yourself for break-up season. Spring is finally here!! It’s about that time for men to put on the shorts, and the ladies to get ready for bikini season. Now that it’s hot outside, we venture out on the activities we missed over the pass few months. This is the time of the year where break-ups begin to happen and when some relationships start (mostly for a short period of time). Due to the fact that it is spring time, most people feel that they no longer need to be in a relationship. Yes things do come up, and sometimes we are going to have to accept it. Some of us don’t want the break-up, and some of people say they are just not ready (Hence why it’s called cuffing SEASON).  Some folks become single during the summer months, so if you gotten past march, best of luck.  Now since there are folks who are single, it’s back to square one of going out to parties, hanging out with friends, and doing the stuff of your enjoyment. However, as soon as the summer months come around (Late May/ Early June), somebody will be in a relationship. I call this the “Alternate cuffing season”. Sometimes it could be that “friend” who was closest to you through the past year, or it could be that one person who crossed your mind that you want to hang out with. Relationships happen can happen on different reasons. For example, we’re out of school, some of us have summer jobs, and also summer time is where to have fun and hang out with a lot of friends. We allow this time to hang out with someone for a good period of our free time. Typically, a summer relationship is usually spending time with your partner, family, and friends all at the same time. The usual summer activities can include but not limited to, a sports date (Soccer, baseball, etc.), Summer concerts, movies, beach, fishing, camping, and star gazing….Dang that all sounds fun. But truthfully, relationships happen around this time because you’re bored, and have nothing else to do.

So the moral of cuffing season is, if you find yourself in this love cycle, you better hope for the best and the worst. 
Are the feelings even mutual? Or is the seasons determining your relationships?

Now allow me to explain what a phase is. I always say that a phase is nothing but short-term feelings towards someone. If the feelings are in the mind and not the heart, you are currently going through a phase. If the feelings are based upon how someone looks, you are going through a phase. Many of us have all went through a phase in our lives before. For example,

Let’s say you are in school, and the most popular girl in the school that everyone talks about is single.  We all know that any guy would take a risk and a chance to ask this girl out. Now in your mind “men” you are saying to yourself “Holy crap she is fine”…. So we all know that this girl is “fine” but the real question is this “Is she worthy?”.  There are times we see other people and we think about wanting to go out with this person. But without the slightest idea of how her “character” is as a “person” we look at beauty first (head), and status second. Status, is a term basically meaning-
            A. How much attention does he/she get.
            B. Does he/she fit the popularity level of the pyramid?

Let’s say you “love” her…. Is it really love? Do you want to commit and wife her up? If you say you “love” her but don’t have any back up reasons to support “why” you love her without getting to know someone first, it’s a phase. 

Be smart about the game. Relationships are like a sport and both men and women can use tactics on how to get someone good. Don’t end up in the short-term relationship. If you really want that person, step up and claim that person. If you want to break-up with someone, ask yourself, why?, and also ask yourself “why did I decided to go out with this person in the first place? how much did it take me to accomplish the goal of having this person be someone in my life?.

If the relationship lasts less than a year, it’s considered a short-term relationship. If  it last longer than a year but less than 3….Evaluate yourself and the relationship. What were the good reasons?, and what were the bad reasons?.

Also think about this….Be careful who you end up with, because you do NOT want to end up in a situation that you can’t get yourself out of.

Be Careful.
Be Mindful.
Be Smart.


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