POV: love.

I'm always surprised and disappointed by the cynicism most people my age have towards love. It's questioned so much these days, either prefaced by an excuse ("I've only known him for a month...") or jadedly miscast as merely a chemical reaction. Too often, even my most hopelessly romantic friends (yes, I'm talking about you) prematurely claim that love is just not meant for them; that they're too "independent" or "not cut out" for relationships.

So many women, especially New York women, carry on with the most dreadful, blasé mentalities. I feel like my generation especially has raised their girls to treat love like some convoluted battle-approach, to believe that love is an act to be perfected through trial and error, through the ebb and flow of failed relationship after failed relationship. Since when did something as wonderful as love become so complicated and self-defeating, so meticulously examined and calculated?

Earlier, I had dinner with my good friend Anuja, and we discussed the many seemingly "inevitable" games women play in this love-dance. And after thoroughly examining both of our past experiences, from memories of thrilling very good dates to our individual methods of preening for male attention, I realized, shamefully, that when it comes to exploring love -- I'm a pretty seasoned warrior. Through my time at NYU, I've developed a thorough dating evaluation method and a weary attitude that the Sex and the City girls would applaud. Like Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte, I have quickly learned the ropes of the game and trekked through my fair share of sexually ambiguous men and awkward situations. With slim pickings at NYU, I thought I'd learned to know exactly what I wanted (and even then unrequited affection oftentimes reared its ugly head). But in fact, I knew nothing but my own defeated expectations.

This year, I've been fortunate to have made many new relationships - some platonic, a few romantic. More significantly, I think I'm making an effort to view this whole love thing and all its bountiful possibilities with new, fresher eyes. I have ceased the battle, and in turn, I think, am on my way to winning the game. All it takes is a different perspective.