Thinking about this whole “you can kiss” thing, it’s funny how such a small phrase can be a big deal. Or, sometimes, the lack of it is the big deal. I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt for awkward moments, let me tell you.
My Early Fumbles
Back in the day, I was a champion at overthinking. Seriously. I’d spend ages trying to decode signals. Does she like me? Is this the right time? Leaning in a bit? Is that a yes? Total paralysis by analysis. I remember one particular evening, everything felt perfect, you know? Good conversation, good vibe. And then the goodnight moment came. My brain just went into overdrive. I swear I spent a solid minute in my head debating the pros and cons, the potential outcomes. What did I do? I think I managed a clumsy pat on the arm. Yeah, smooth. Real smooth.
It wasn’t just one time either. It was a pattern. I’d get so caught up in not wanting to misread things or, heaven forbid, make someone uncomfortable, that I’d just… not do anything. Or do something incredibly awkward. Lots of missed opportunities, I reckon. Or opportunities that turned into cringe fests.
Then Came the Clarity
Then, years down the line, something shifted. Or maybe I just grew up a bit. I had this one experience, and it wasn’t even me making the move. We’d been hanging out, and it was one of those moments where the air gets a bit thick, you know? And just as my old programming was about to kick in – the doubt, the overthinking – she just sort of smiled and said, plain as anything, “You can kiss me, you know.”
Bam. Just like that. No guessing games. No deciphering ancient runes. It was like a lightbulb went on. All that anxiety I used to feel? Poof. Gone. It was… surprisingly easy. And way better. We just kissed. Simple. Why wasn’t it always this simple?
My “Practice” Now: Keep It Real
So, that’s kind of become my philosophy, my practice, if you want to call it that. Just be real. Say what you mean, or at least make it easier for the other person to. I realized all that tiptoeing around, trying to be a mind reader, it’s mostly just a waste of time and energy. It creates more awkwardness than it prevents.
I mean, I see how things are now. People send these little picture things on their phones, right? Like a ud83dude18 for a friendly kiss or a ud83dudc8b if they’re really into someone. I guess that’s one way to do it. Maybe it helps cut through some of the old awkwardness, gives a bit of a green light. And that’s cool, saves some guesswork for sure.
But for me, nothing really beats that clear, spoken understanding. Whether it’s asking, “Can I kiss you?” and getting a “Yes please!” like some folks say is the way, or just being able to read a situation well enough to know a direct statement will be appreciated. That clarity, man, it’s gold. It just makes everything feel more honest, more straightforward. No games. Just… connection.
So yeah, that’s my take. Less mind-reading, more just… talking. Or at least making the ‘yes’ super obvious. It’s worked out a lot better for me since I figured that one out. Took me long enough, mind you!
