“Relationshopping” refers to the online shopping cart approach to dating, seeking love with the same mindset you shop for a car or new laptop: assessing and comparing based on searchable attributes. At its extreme (or taken to its logical conclusion?), “relationshopping” reflects the “belief that a great relationship can be had just by discovering the right profile rather than cultivated through hard work and effort.” (Journal of Social & Personal Relationships)

The internet has many, many wonderful benefits and the ease of meeting people with common interests is certainly one of them. However, like many things, it is a double edge sword. The internet can help folks find compatible mates, creating the relationship is up to us. The internet only serves up others with the raw material, making something real and lasting is the part we must provide. You want the reward, you have to do the work. The Honeymoon is only going to last so long.

Closing Quotes:

“Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.” – Bob Marley, 1945-1981

“To say that one waits a lifetime for his soulmate to come around is a paradox. People eventually get sick of waiting, take a chance on someone and by the art of commitment become soulmates, which takes a lifetime to perfect.” – Criss Jami, Venus in Arms

“We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1962

“The heart of another is a dark forest, always, no matter how close it has been to one’s own.” – Willa Cather, 1873-1947, author, Pulitzer Prize

As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier