Because I have a philosophy in dating that mutual respect and kindness is a basic tenet of human interaction. Greet each and every new encounter in life with a smile and a warm embrace. Its easy, good for the heart, and is the key to happiness. Besides, What other way is there to be?

I think its essential for two people to come to a common understanding before embarking on any endeavor of personal nature. My simple philosophy on friendships and relationships is this – A relationship is an excursion that goes only as long as you want to take it. A friendship is a journey that lasts forever. The obvious distinction here is that friendships are not bound by the timelines and expectations that constrain a relationship, and consequently, friendships are more fun.

Another important distinction is that friendships evolve. And an evolution is simply a journey with a starting point and, God be good, no end. I have witnessed firsthand how some people smother the life out of a friendship opportunity by setting constraints and not allowing it to evolve naturally.