Why We Should End The Hookup Culture

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Nothing makes us feel more human and more alive than a person’s touch. Whether it may be a handshake, a hug, or an innocent kiss- It is a legal stimulant that instinctively makes us feel whole. I’ve always been the hopeless romantic type of girl waiting for the one to walk into my life. Because I have never been in a serious relationship before, I stand here patiently waiting to feel the warmth of my significant other’s skin pressed against mine. But sometimes I lose hope, and eventually I lose myself too.

I find myself getting caught in the most awkward dating situations. I’ve lost count of the number of shameful Sunday mornings I spent thinking about the stupid decision I made the night before. Hooking up with strangers, or even platonic friendships, are never a good idea, especially for the young romantics of this generation.

From what was once called a “date,” we now identify it as a “one night stand” or “Netflix and chill.” It is a burden and an embarrassment for us millennials. It shows how cynical we have become to love and resort to only physical interaction to distract ourselves from the truth.

Despite the countless times I’ve forced myself to believe that love is a fiction and that all we need in life is companionship without the need of intimacy, at the end of the day we are just lost souls longing for solidarity. We all want to be held by someone with the comfort of knowing that their entirety is based on the certain connection we have with them.

To the lonely souls who are reading this, hooking up with the guy you met at the bar last Friday won’t change anything. The loneliness will fade, yes, but eventually it will come back when you realize you’re never going see them again.

We are not doing ourselves a favor when we hookup with someone we don’t have feelings for. Since when did the hookup scene become the place to find love? You will never be satisfied when you waste your time with the wrong guys instead of looking for the right ones. It is a game and no one is winning, so it’s time to put an end to this. The hookup culture is making cowards afraid of commitment and it is turning us into dating phonies.

Yes, love is unpredictable and everyone has a fear of being alone. But it’s going to be worth it because eventually you will find something that actually lasts and not something that is temporary that the hookup culture encapsulates.