Friends vs. Lovers

Feb 29, 2008 - 00:01 AM PST

I had a thought today. Why is it so much harder to open up to the possibility of a potential lover than the possibility of a potential friend? What is the difference?

With my friends I can be myself without fear of judgment. I can have fun, be flirty, be happy or sad. I can be goofy or serious. With my friends it doesn't matter. With my friends I am comfortable. I let my walls down, become vulnerable. I let these people see all of the facets of me: the writer, the singer, the mother, the daughter, the sister, the reenacter, my strengths, my weaknesses, my flaws and my talents. That being said, I wouldn't date any of them.

But isn't that the goal of dating? To find someone that you can do and be all of those things with? That and have amazing physical connections as well. Then why is it so much harder to let walls down when your connection with someone begins with the physical attraction? Why is it that when you open yourself to date a friend, you risk the friendship, but when you open yourself to date a stranger, you risk yourself?