Gambling vs. Relationships

In many ways, the dating game is much like gambling. You scout it out and pick the table where you think you stand the best chance. You sit down knowing that the odds are that the house will win, but the excitement of the chance to win big draws you in. You know what you stand to lose, but the butterflies of hope that this could be “that time” make you play the game.

You are dealt your hand and can change a card or two, but ultimately must work with what you are given. If you think it’s a bad deal, you can fold and walk away, losing only what it cost to get in the game. But if you choose to fold, you’ll never know what you might have won and you don’t get to see the opponent’s cards. So, most often we choose to bet, either bluffing or honestly believing that you can win this hand. You can only win big if you bet big. I am an “all-in and lay your cards on the table” kind of girl. The stakes are high... risking your feelings, your pride, and sometimes even your heart. But the winnings could be so much more... companionship, trust, loyalty and best of all, love.

Sometimes you bet big and lose it all. You can then choose to gather what you have left, move on to the next table and hope for another chance... or you can choose to pack up, go home and give up. So you must choose for yourself whether you can handle losing over and over in the search for the time that you will win big. With practice, you can learn better ways to play your cards and also learn when to just walk away. How many times can you lose to the same opponent before you give up on playing with them? I’m still deciding myself. I’ve shown all my cards and for now, it wasn’t enough. But I know that I am happy knowing that I played the game, even if I lost in the end. Playing fair is all you can really ask for and I got that.

After the last big game I played, I chose to pack it up and go home. I felt like I had lost so much that I would never be able to play the game again. This round proved me wrong. I was afraid that I would never feel that “spark” again... but now I know I can. And one day, that spark will be mutual and I will win. Someday... someday.