Dating Does Not Equal Happines

Our society sends countless message that romance solves everything. Think about Cinderella. Life, however is not a fairy tale or a movie. Even people who truly love one another do not marry and just live happily ever after.

Dating, love and marriage do not guarantee happiness. Respecting and caring about yourself can improve your chances for happiness. Poeple who love themselves are more likely to find others who also will love them. It helps to learn to listen to yourself. Once you know yourself, it's easier to figure out what kind of persons you want to date.

At a Glance

Not all societies allow or encourge dating. The numbers of young Americans who date often surprises teens who move up the United States from other countries.

For examples, high schools students from Taiwan, Malaysia and Columbia showed such surprise. They all said dating was less common in their country than in the United States.