CandiDates: To Fish or Not to Fish

It’s the end of summer fling season, so now’s the time to make that tough decision: stick it out with the new beau you managed to pick up at a party in early June (the honeymoon phase should still be at its peak, but the downward slope is just around the corner), or attack the new dating pool, now that school is back in session (and by school, I mean a new batch of fresh meat you may meet, whether it’s a newbie in your classes, a fresh face at work, or an out-of-towner making Colorado a home for the 2012-2013 season). Opportunities are endless, but there are risks, so whichever way you choose to proceed, weigh out the pros and cons.

For instance, did you choose your summer love simply because he looked good in a pair of swim trunks? It’s easy to fall for the six-pack, but by summer’s end, there’d better be something else keeping you lusting. Once our Colorado cold sets in, and the shirt goes back on, something other than the Magic Mike shape needs to keep you warm.

On the other hand, are you dumping the summer flame only because there are other fish in the sea? If he’s a good catch, you might want to hold off; your fishing skills may not live up to your standards if you’re too picky. Realistically, who cares what season it is? If you captured someone who’s worth your while, use that while wisely. All too often, we look for bigger and better only to see, in hindsight, that bigger and better was there all along. We, as human beings, are wired to keep aiming higher, to never be fully satisfied and to keep setting our sights on new paths once we reach each destination. But, sometimes, in our search for the next great thing, we start to doubt how great what we already have is.

Having said that, never settle. Competition is healthy. Setting your sights on the next best thing keeps you on top of your game. Just don’t compare a relationship to an accomplishment. Choose based on how you feel, not how much better you think you can do. After all, you don’t want to just be another accomplishment in someone else’s black book. If you don’t see him in your epilogue, go fish. But, if he’s a possible ending, see it through—you can always go fish next summer.