202) Timing

I like this lady. She lives an hour away from me. We matched on Facebook Dating. And we have went on three dates. She's a full time student. And she works full time too. We continue to contact each other.

My feelings are talking now.

She won't be able to have any free time to see me for this year. Respect the lady.

My younger-self would blame her. I would assume she doesn't like me. And she's not into me. Then I would second-guess on her. Like it would be her way of saying no to me. I would think something is wrong with her or me.

"She's missing out on getting to know me even more," my younger-self would say.

My younger-self would be harsh on myself as I would hate on someone.

I see it's the timing now. And the uncertainty too. I have no idea what's right or wrong.

I can only go with what I can control. I can't force the issue. I can't control the outcome. Again respect the lady (and others). 

I like to find a partner one day. And enjoy the 3 C's with her:  Connect, cuddle, and chill. 

All I can do is continue being humble, honest, and vulnerable to lady (and others).

"I'm nervous. I haven't gone on dates in while," I told the lady when our first date began. "I'll continue to be honest and vulnerable to you. You look pretty."

I can't expect anything in return too.

For instance, I took the lady out for a first date. I gave her a ride. I paid for her dinner. I paid for her cup of tea too. I counted everything I've done for her. My younger-self would expect something in return, like a first kiss from her on a first date.

Because a friend gave me this advice about the first kiss on first date. I don't blame it on friend. I always watched a lot of romantic comedy movies before as well. Go with what you believe in. You can say whatever you to me. I process about what people tell me. At the end of the day, it's up to me.

I didn't get a kiss from lady at the end of the night.

It was in my mind.

I was processing about my previous dates with women. I haven't experienced a first kiss on a first date. I was never myself every time I only focused on the first kiss on first date. Because I would feel pressured. I was never living the moment with the date.

My feelings were talking as well. I will have flashbacks. I can't erase or avoid them. Because the mind never stops talking. The past is remembered. Live in the moment. The future is in you. 

​I asked myself questions on how to resolve my situation.

Did you enjoy your first date with her? What happens now? Am I going to ask her out for a second date?

I enjoyed the first date. I asked and listened. The first kiss was on my mind. But it didn't stop me from being who I am. 

"This can be the first and last time I see you. I have no idea. It's the uncertainty," I told the lady during our date. "I like you. I can't force or change you to like me. I respect you."

(I asked the lady out again. I offered to pick her up. She gave me her home address. Because we met at the restaurant on our first date together.) 

I've been asking people who are taken about their first kiss on first date.

I want to hear their story. Everybody has a story to tell. Ask and listen. The art of curiosity.

​Based on their experiences, relationships take time. First kiss on first date didn't happen for them. It goes with the timing again.

I talked to a friend on the phone.

He was telling me it's the awareness. It's being able to observe the lady during the date.

"You mean court awareness," I told him. (I use analogy in sports and life. Because they are interconnected. Basketball and life are interconnected.)

For instance, I did catch the lady checking me out on the second date while I was driving her to house. I glanced at her with a smile. Then I looked straight ahead at the road.

Mark Manson talks about honesty and vulnerability in his article, It's Complicated:  Why Relationships and Dating Can Be So Hard.

"This is the reason that honesty and vulnerability are so powerful for creating high-quality interactions - the practice of being upfront about your desires and flaws will naturally screen for those who best suit you and connect with you," Manson writes.

He continues:  "This kind of authenticity changes the whole dynamic of dating. Instead of chasing and pursuing or wishing and hoping, you focus on consistently improving yourself and present that shelf to the beautiful strangers of the world. The right ones will pay attention and stay. And whether you spend a night or a year with them, this enhanced level of intimacy and mutual vulnerability will help heal your emotional wounds, help you become more confident and secure in your relationships and ultimately, overcome much of the pain and stress of that accompanies sex and intimacy."

Timing isn't only for dating. It's for everything in life (in general).

​For instance, it took me 16 years to forgive my uncle from losing my sister's life.

I'm able to be at peace with others. No more enemies. No more grudges. My heart has been healed. Same goes with my paranoia.

My younger-self would assume someone is always coming after me whenever I was alone. I would always look back over my shoulder. I needed to check for my protection. I would clench both of my fists whenever I believed I was being chased. Because I was ready to fight the imaginary enemy. 

"To overcome an irrational fear, replace it with a habit," Simon Sinek writes in one of his blog posts. "If you're afraid to write, write a little, every day. Start with an anonymous blog, start with a sentence. Every day, drip, drip, drip, a habit. If you're afraid to speak up, speak up a little, every day. Not to the board of directors, but to someone. A little bit, every day. Habits are more powerful than fears." 

I can only change my habit if I'm willing to replace it. It took time for me to change. It goes with the timing again.

At 32 years old, I meditated for the first time. I'm able to meditate for 10 minutes every night before I sleep. I started it since the month of June. Meditating has been one of my lifestyle habits.

A friend introduced me to meditation a few years ago. I wasn't able to apply it right away. I was processing. It goes with the timing again.

I observed someone. He would only come to me when he needed something.

It's understanding who people are. And making adjustments. My friend believed the person comes to me. Because he trusts me. It took me time to realize it.

It goes with the timing again.

I've played basketball most of my life. I never trusted my jump shot in games. I was afraid to take a jump shot. It was in my head. I only focused on passing and driving the ball.

It took me only earlier this year (or late last year) to read what the defense gives me. The defender gives me space. I go for the jump shot. I'm able to (finally) play within the game now. It took me time to realize and apply it.

It goes with the timing again.

My story lives on until I die.

We shall see if I'm able to continue to grow, evolve, and change as a person.

The timing will tell.