Is there such a thing as an honorable or good flirt?
The first thing I think of when I think of a flirt is a dishonorable person who runs around getting people’s hopes up and then takes advantage of one’s heightened emotions to ask for favors. Playing with the emotions of others to, ultimately, get something that they wanted all along.
But what if flirting, when left in the hands of non-opportunists, could instead inspire self-confidence in those being flirted with. All too often, people go through the rigors of day to day life, feeling downtrodden and dejected because of lack of sleep or unsatisfactory work, home or school situation. The only interaction in one’s day that might not inspire stress and anticipation about impending deadlines could be the barista at the coffee/tea place from which you like to get your morning or afternoon cup, or some stranger in the checkout line of the supermarket.
And what if that stranger offered you a smile? A kind compliment about your new bag or your Spiderman t-shirt? They made simple eye contact with you, not expecting anything in return, simply out of kindness. Wouldn’t that bring a smile to your face? Maybe you’d think about it later around 4 when you kept looking at the clock, anticipating the end of the workday, as you wondered if that muffin you decided to get with your tea this morning wasn’t especially good.
Flirting just for the sake of flirting could be a welcome distraction in an otherwise hectic lifestyle and what makes it better is that there are no expectations attached to, “your hair looks really good, did you do something different today?” The person receiving the compliment is left thinking, Wow, my hair must really look good.
What’s more, the person receiving the compliment might not just feel really good in that moment. They might remember the compliment later on in the day. I guess what it really boils down to is it can be nice to be nice just for the sake of being nice. It’s even better if there could never possibly be anything more from the interaction due to bad timing, an age difference, or because you are in a relationship. You can simply enjoy one moment that isn’t tainted with the outside stressors that can strain a regular relationship.
While it is important to learn to love yourself for yourself. It’s also nice when someone else notices and appreciates something about you that is not often complimented. Just one, untainted moment to feel good about yourself because of someone else’s kind words.
So what do you think? Could we all enjoy a little more wholesome flirting?
Caia Rose 