I am sure by now you have heard the term ghosting, but do you know about breadcrumbing, cushioning, and love bombing?

I first learned of these terms when I saw this article 5 Signs That He’s Just Not That Into You . I feel like the actions have always been around and now with online dating the terms are just being changed or some actually defined. For example, breadcrumbing I would say is leading someone on and cushioning is having someone on the back burner. I have no experience with love bombing, so you can read the description on it in the link above.

In my short time back in the dating game I had said I didn’t want to intentionally ghost anyone as I felt it is disrespectful. Sadly I now realize that I didn’t ghost, but I did do some breadcrumbing. I was guilty of replying and never fully committing to any plans as it was easier to leave the door open. Breadcrumbing can also lead to cushioning in having the foot in the door until someone better comes along or in case the current person is no longer a fit.

The world of swiping makes both breadcrumbing and cushioning easy to do since there are so many options. Dating Apps are exhausting and time consuming.  I got to the point of having a note typed up with typical bio info, fun facts and standard questions that I could copy and paste into messages.  I did this to be efficient as I don’t like duplicate work and I am terrible at remembering who I tell what to. Ask my friends and family, they get stories on repeat as I can’t remember if I told them or not. This tactic is efficient, but not personal nor fair.

In dating it is so easy to get your hopes up and overanalyze every conversation and situation. Over Analyzing will drive you crazy and most likely make you insecure, I know the impact. The important thing to remember is to take someone at face value vs trying to read between the lines. Every personality is different and some are harder to read than others, which is why reading the person shouldn’t be occurring.  If you feel safe around the person and you enjoy each others company over time the key qualities will reveal themselves.  These characteristics will determine if there is a level of comfort that exist or can develop with that person. To determine comfort both people have to be themselves versus the perception they want to present.

Fully opening up and being yourself in front of a stranger is scary since you have to be so vulnerable. The dating game struggle is deciding at what point is it safe to show those vulnerabilities to fully get to know someone and let them know you? If someone wants to spend time with you they will make an effort to plan time together and if they want to get to know you they will ask questions along with sharing aspects of their life.

Dating is hard, fun and scary all at the same time. We date to meet new people and hopefully find a partner in life, at least that should be the ultimate goal. Those out there trying to date please know that ghosting is disrespectful and breadcrumbing/ cushioning can be very hurtful. I understand how it can happen so easily as I have done the same thing, but transparency goes a long way! I’ve taken a hiatus from the dating app game, but going forward will be aware and not play the games mentioned above.

Date respectfully!

XOXO,

Cecee