Dating a friend
How do you date a friend? How do you make sure that you don't spoil your friendship by asking a friend out on a date?
Dating a friend is a risky business. You've found someone with whom you've a lot in common and whom you trust and you want to turn romance into true love. If you get it right and romance and love follow, you've hit bull's-eye but get it wrong and you've lost a good friend. So, how do you go about dating a friend?If you have decided to go ahead with dating a friend then the best thing is to start by using your two main advantages that you have over an attempt to secure a date with a complete stranger. You already communicate and you also have trust. Make sure you don't abuse the latter as that is what would spoil your friendship if the approach doesn't work out and the idea of romance is not mutual. The other thing you need to do is to 'keep it light' at the beginning - a sudden approach will probably startle your friend and undermine your relationship.
The first stage in dating a friend is to get them on their own. Without making a big issue of it, suggest that you go somewhere together - maybe to see a film, have lunch together, make a shopping expedition. These are all 'intermediate' type venues - e.g. you would not want to see a film with someone you didn't (or possibly didn't) like but it is not such a 'big deal' that it will surprise your friend. Also, if you get turned down, you have not lost face and you can continue your friendship.
If you are just setting out on your way to dating a friend then an absolute no-no is to place your friend in a romantic situation - e.g. a dinner for two in a fancy restaurant, a weekend away, a walk in the park holding hands etc. All these are sets of circumstances where your friend is being forced to decide whether they want a romantic involvement with you. Unless they have been wanting to date you too then your approach will fail and you will upset your friend.
The best way to succeed when dating a friend is to keep it casual. By all means buy a bag sweets to share or get them a small gift while you are out together (if the situation suggests it) but on no account turn up with a bib box of chocolates or some expensive floral arrangement. Again, these are all 'black and white', 'yes or no' type situations which will be a nasty surprise for your friend who only expected a pleasant time with a good friend, you.
Keep it light - that's the order of the day. In fact that is the thrust of the whole approach of dating a friend. If you stick to it, you will soon find out if your love is returned and whether romance is in the air. If not, you will hopefully have avoided spoiling your relationship and you will be able to continue being 'just good friends' as long as you can put your failed attempt behind you.
Remember that you have to take it one step at a time when dating a friend.