Mike DomitrzPresident, Author, and Speaker on Respect, The Center for Respect, Inc. · Author & Speaker on Respect for Schools, Corporations, & the Military since 1990 (has reached

Slow down — love isn’t a race.

11 Apr 2025 · 1 min

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In this brief spoken segment, the speaker cautions young people—particularly those in middle school—against rushing into romantic or sexual intimacy. He argues that any intimacy experienced at this age is unlikely to be the "best" of one's life and may lead to future regret, especially when looking back from adulthood. He illustrates this with the image of a short‑lived relationship that turns into months of misery, and suggests that reflecting on peers' dating experiences through journaling can reveal how unappealing the rush feels. The overall message is to slow down, avoid the pressure to be in a relationship, and consider long‑term emotional wellbeing over immediate gratification.

Chapters

Nothing in middle school when it comes to intimacy or sexual activity will be that amazing. Nothing that's gonna happen here is gonna be the best of your life when it comes to this intimacy relationships. And if it is, we're all very sad for you at 40. How many agree what we might think is good right now, we could look back on and go, that was pretty messed up? 3 weeks of a relationship that lasts 6 months of misery. Why am I in a hurry? If you sat back and just journaled about your friends dating in middle school, You would look at that journal and go, no hurry for me. That would not look like an attractive thing at all. So why are we doing this? Why are we in a hurry to do this?