A few days ago, while watching a particular live on YouTube, I chuckled as someone on the live used the word “Googleable” and then folks in the chat proceeded to try and clown them. After about the 10th response, I chimed in (under a different name because I like to be low-key on socials) and said, “Actually, that word is in some dictionaries now. Google it.”
Those of us who remember when (thanks to Destiny Child’s now throwback song) bootylicious made it into the dictionary can certainly vouch for the fact that “made up words” can find their way into the dictionary — and not just the Urban Dictionary either. And yes, as much as I frown upon it, society and culture can also misuse words so much over time that words can change from their original meaning as well.
Take the word “nice,” for example. Did you know that, once upon a time, it used to mean foolish? Or that hussy actually used to mean wife or spinster was simply a woman who spun things? Oh, but look at those words now — pretty much because their original meaning wasn’t respected and so they shifted into other ones.
For me, as someone who writes for a living, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times in a week that I find myself saying that I am “word-literal” when it comes to many things that I say or write — and by that, I mean that I still like to give the origin of certain words the respect and honor that I feel they deserve. One reason is because I agree with research when it says that words have power as they relate to our thoughts and actions and so, we should put thought into what words were created to mean from their inception, not just what they’ve transitioned into.
Another is because, if we’re not careful, we can be using a word thinking that it should “act” one way in our lives when really…it should react totally different.
In my opinion, monogamous is one of those words and, over the course of the next few minutes, I’m going to explain why it’s like fingernails on the chalkboard to me whenever I hear anyone who isn’t married use it to describe non-marital dynamic.
Monogamous. Explained.
If someone were to ask you to define the word “monogamous” what would you say?
If it’s something along the lines of being in a one-on-one relationship, I get why that would be the case. People have been using monogamous in that context for so long at this point that I doubt most even get that the word originally meant “the practice of marrying only once in a lifetime.” In fact, certain researchers say that the word monogamous comes from the Greek one monógamos which means “marrying only once” because mono means “single” or “one” and gamy means “marriage” (hence polygamous originally meaning being married to more than one person at a time).
So y’all, if you really take all of this in, I’m hoping that you caught two things: First, monogamous is a word that was designed to be used for marriage dynamics ONLY, and second, the actual original definition didn’t even make room for people who divorce and then marry a different person.
Nope, if you are traditionally monogamous, you get married to one person and remain with that individual for the rest of your life — which yes, that means that very few people are truly and authentically…monogamous.
So, how did we get so far away from this to the point where folks who are merely dating will say that they are in a monogamous relationship?
I’d venture to say that, for one thing, over time, the sacredness of marriage and marriage vows have been lost. Perhaps now, more than ever, people are comfortable with promising to stay with someone until death parts them, only to leave and then say the exact same thing to someone else (which actually only increases the chances of divorcing again according to many cited findings). Why?
Well, some experts on the topic say that it’s because folks, more than ever, seem to “fall out of love” (I can’t stand that saying, by the way; it removes the personal accountability that comes with choosing who you love and how you act once you make the decision) with marriage about as much as they do with the person who they married.
Case in point, where it currently stands, some data says that 41 percent of first-time marriages will end in divorce and 66 percent of women are the ones who initiate it. And while there are literally dozens of things that could cause people to “fall out,” as it relates to the topic that we’re discussing today, I want to pose a very specific one: the misuse and/or abuse of the word “monogamous.”
i want your sex monogamy GIF by George MichaelGiphyI believe I’ve shared before (probably more than once at this point) that I once had a friend who was really on the edge of separating from his spouse. They were about seven years into their marriage at the time (she was a woman who ultimately ended with a shut up ring, by the way, whether she realizes it/wants to accept it or not) and he simply wasn’t happy.
As he was going into some of the reasons why, I said, “You sound like you’re bored” to which he barely hesitated before replying, “I’ve been married since I was 14.” What did he mean by that?
Well, because so many people, in my opinion, date like they are married, a lot of them end up not really valuing marriage — not at the level that marriage truly deserves, anyway. Since they’ve been in the habit of falling in love (Albert Einstein once said, “Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love;” some of y’all will catch that later), saying that they are monogamous with someone, falling out of love and then “rinsing and repeating” multiple times with other individuals — it has literally “programmed” them to see monogamy with a “fall in and then fall out” perspective.
Another way to look at it: as I oftentimes say, the way that this culture chooses to date, actually teaches people how to divorce NOT marry — and misusing the word “monogamous,” in my opinion, plays a huge role in that. I mean, if you’re dating and you say you’re monogamous with someone, what makes being married and saying the same thing really any different? What gives the word any higher value?
@therealrabbimanis Why are open marriages on the rise? #rabbimanisfriedman #rabbisoftiktok #relationshiptips #relationshipadvice #relationshiptiktok #openmarriages #fyp #foryou
And that is why I’m actually rocking with the rabbi here. It will never cease to amaze me how society is forever trying to act like the act of sex (including who you choose to participate in the act with) is no big deal — oh, but get a boyfriend and find out that he had sex with someone other than you and now all hell breaks loose. If sex is “no biggie” before dating, why are you acting like infidelity happened during dating? Why are you treating him like he’s basically your husband when he absolutely is not?
And if you want him to be, why are the two of you not putting plans into place to get married? And if you’re not ready for that, why are you ready to be in the type of relationship that basically mimics it? ‘Cause lawd, if there is one thing that social media is absolutely obsessed with, on the Lifetime Television level, it’s cheating (by the way, even in marriage, it reportedly happens 20 percent among men and 13 percent among women; not nearly as much as folks act like it does).
And you know what, whether you fully agree with the rabbi or not, you’ve got to admit that he’s made some points to at least seriously ponder. Okay, so what if you don’t ever want to get married yet you’re in a serious relationship? Or what if you and your partner are living together right now (divorce stats increase after marriage if that is the case; you can read more about that here), you’ve both decided to not see anyone but each other yet you’re not sure when marriage is coming. Does that not mean that you are basically monogamous?
Well, if you let the fickleness of culture determine the answer for you, "monogamous" has gotten to the point that many believe that it’s about having one sexual partner at a time. However, because I think that the word deserves to be highly esteemed, in your case, I would much rather prefer to use the word “exclusive.”
Exclusive. Explained.
@tonightsconversation Is this true about dating with “intention”? 👀 #dating #relationships @trippfontane @Ace Metaphor
Okay, so I had to throw Tripp Fontane’s commentary (via the video above) in first because, if you’re not in something serious yet, what he said provides some really good food for thought: initial dating should be about discerning if your intentions (whatever those intentions may be) are actually aligned with the person’s intentions who you are seeing.
Unfortunately, far too many people find themselves weeks or months into dating (and perhaps even being sexually involved with someone), all the while assuming that if some chemistry is there, a future must be there too — and that is not always or automatically the case. Tripp just proved that point.
@kingdommen23 The world may have its reasons to date but in the Kingdom we have 2 main reasons why we date!! #kingdommen #following #followers #friends #priorities
Okay, beyond that, though, the pastor in this video is definitely onto something that is relevant and necessary. When you’re dating and you want to get into an exclusive relationship (more on that in just a sec), assessing the individual’s character and seeing how well they complement you, your life’s purpose, and your goals (check out “If He's Right For You, He Will COMPLEMENT Your Life”) should be the main focus.
And what if the guy checks those boxes, you both don’t want to see other people and yet you’re not ready for marriage (or perhaps don’t even want to be married and he is on the same page about that — check out “Single-Minded: So, What If You Like Dating But DON’T Desire Marriage?” and “12 Couples Reveal Why They're Happy With A Long-Term Commitment Instead Of Marriage”)? Isn’t that more than just casual or light dating? Sure it is. And the word that I like for that is exclusive.
Exclusive: not admitting of something else; omitting from consideration or account (often followed by of); shutting out all others from a part or share; disposed to resist the admission of outsiders to association, intimacy, etc.
And why is exclusive the word that I can vibe with?
Well, for one thing, it gives credence to one-on-one relationships where marriage isn’t involved without compromising what monogamous was designed to mean. Also, it shows that you can be with just one person although nowhere in any of the definitions do you see marriage ever mentioned — and that’s because you can be exclusive with someone and not be married to them….very much so.
And y’all, perhaps if more people thought the way that I do about all of this, marriage would be treated as the sacred union that it is and people who are in serious dating relationships would still feel like they are getting the respect that they want without mocking marriage in the process — and maybe that would cause people to “reprogram” themselves (and society) from seeing and treating marriage as “basically being” the same thing as being in a serious dating relationship…because that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Marriage is so much more than dating; even serious dating.
Okay, and what about some of y’all who can’t even take in all of what I’m saying right now because you’re still stuck on what the rabbi said about there being no such thing as cheating when you are dating — even when it comes to seriously dating? Although I rock with him 1000 percent, again, because I am word-literal, I do think that infidelity and cheating apply to marriage because a part of the marriage vow is to be faithful to your spouse only.
HOWEVER, I do think that if you and someone come to the agreement that intimacy will only be shared between the two of you and they don’t stick to that agreement, they lied to you — lying is an integrity issue and you should take that under very serious consideration before contemplating marrying them.
Again, at the same time though, if sex is just recreational or something fun to do when you’re not in a relationship, I’m still not sure how it’s so life-shattering if the person you’re dating has sex with someone else?
Is that really about the sex? Is it because they weren’t honest with you? Or is it more of a bruised ego? Or could it be that you’re acting like you’re married when you’re not — and so you see him as a husband and you as a wife when…he’s not and you’re not? (Hmm…) Again, just something to think about.
Season 1 Dating GIF by The Roku ChannelGiphy____
Do I expect everyone who just read all of this to (automatically) agree with me? C’mon now. This way of thinking is so countercultural that it’s going to ruffle more than a few feathers, I’m sure. And that is why the title of this says that I use "monogamous" for marriage and "exclusive" for dating.
However, at the same time, I do think that if you would consider my perspective, even just a little bit, it could take a lot of pressure off of dating and prepare you for marriage in some ways that you never saw coming because it can help you to look at dating as preparation for marriage and not “practice run” for marriage itself (because dating isn’t “play marriage;” dating is its own thing entirely).
Now excuse me while I listen to more of what the rabbi has to say about marriage, in general, because his thoughts continue to remind me that marriage ain’t a game. Not by a long shot.
And you know what? The words that we use to define and explain marriage shouldn’t be treated as one…either. Not. At. All.
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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That’s why, over the years, I’ve been intentional about figuring out ways to get more agua into my body without feeling like it’s a chore or something to dread. And now, I want to pass some of those hacks on to you, just in case you happen to totally relate to where I am coming from.
If something that you want to do more of right through here is get extra H2O into your system, here are 10 tips that can absolutely help to make that possible.
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1. Invest in a Fun Water Bottle
There’s a far greater chance that you are going to drink water if you have a water bottle around you. So, cop yourself a cute one — one that will help you to stay motivated. A tumbler that I purchased some time back, just because I thought it was cute as hell, simply says, “Make Better Coochie Decisions” (amen?-LOL). Honestly, that doesn’t just have to apply to sex but how you treat your vagina overall — and that includes making sure that “she” has all of the fluids that she needs.
2. Try Some Sparkling Water or Mineral Water
At this point, I should take stock in Waterloo. It currently is my favorite kind of sparkling water and it has definitely made getting more water into my system easier to do. That’s because I will add some limes to it or a bit of fruit juice to it and that makes drinking water less “meh” for me. Another type of water that has bubbles in it is sparkling mineral water; it can also be beneficial since it contains magnesium, potassium and calcium.
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3. Go Halfsies with Your Other Drinks of Choice
Speaking of making some all-natural soda (which is basically what happens when you add juice to sparkling water or sparkling mineral water), you can find yourself drinking more water while consuming less calories if you fill up your glass with half of your favorite fruit juice and half of some sparkling water. More times than not, the juice doesn’t even taste watered down. Try it before you doubt me.
4. Collect Some Infused Water Recipes
I’m forever gonna be a fan of infused water; that’s because it’s water that has fresh fruits and/or veggies in them — and it doesn’t get any healthier than that. Plus, infused water tends to take on the taste of whatever fruits or vegetables that you put into the water (if you let the stuff soak for a couple of hours), so that the water doesn’t taste so boring and bland. Wanna try a few recipes? You can check out some here and here.
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5. Make Slushies Instead of Smoothies
Are you someone who enjoys consuming smoothies? Well, if you want to get more water into your system, how about going with a slushie instead? Although it is true that some smoothies have water as a base, the most bomb ones use milk (or a milk alternative) or yogurt. Slushies, on the other hand, typically go with crushed ice (which is frozen water) instead. That said, some (pardon the pun) cool slushy recipes can be found here, here and here.
6. Use Water As Your “Drink Chaser”
Another great thing about water is it can help to keep you from overeating; it does that by causing you to feel full if you drink it while you are eating. And speaking of calorie-counting, if you don’t want to give up your favorite drink at mealtime, one way to keep from downing 2-3 glasses of it at a time is to use water as your “chaser.” What I mean by that is, after enjoying a glass of your favorite beverage, “chase it down” with a glass of water. That should satisfy your want for what you want without overdoing it.
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7. Eat Foods That Are High in Water Content
Another way to get more water into your body is to eat foods that have a ton of water in them. Some that top the list include lettuce (96 percent); cucumber (95 percent); zucchini (95 percent); celery (95 percent); strawberries (91 percent); cantaloupe (90 percent), and peaches (89 percent).
8. Have a Ball with Your Ice Cubes
Ice cubes are frozen water, right? That’s why most of us prefer to enjoy our drinks before the ice cubes melt because melted cubes water down whatever it is that we are consuming. And so, for this very reason, add more ice cubes to your drinks — and have fun making them. You can add juice, fruit and/or mint leaves while making your cubes. That way, they are aesthetically-pleasing; plus, they will also add more flavor to your water once the ice cubes actually melt.
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9. Add Some Non-Alcohol Cordial to Your Water
If you’re fine with just having a tad of taste in your water, why not add a bit of cordial to it? Cordial is simply a type of tonic, syrup or sweetener (that can contain alcohol or not) that can help to make your water more…interesting. Some alcohol-based cordials can be found here. Some non-alcoholic recipes are located here.
10. Technically, Herbal Tea Counts
Tea is always gonna be my thing. That’s why I’ve penned articles on it for the site like “10 Different Ways Herbal Teas Can Fit Into Your Beauty Regimen”, “10 'Uncommon' Teas You Should Add To Your Stash (& Why)” and “I've Got 10 Teas That Will Help You To Age (Even More) Gracefully” And y’all, if you want to get a lot more water into your system yet a tall glass of water only isn’t your — pardon the pun — cup of tea, make some iced herbal tea instead.
It’s basically water with some herbs tossed in and, if you add some honey or raw organic coconut palm sugar to it, it will be a really sweet treat that will still be extremely hydrating (and very healthy) for you.
Water that is a bit more exciting for you…now. LOL.
Drink up!
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