It sounds simple but I think that's why most people take its effect on dating for granted. But if there's one thing I've realized, based on observation, my own experiences and how my own feelings completely changed over time due to one or several small things, doing one or little forms of decisive, compassionate, genuine action can change the course of where a connection is headed.

And in the same breath, indecisiveness and inaction does the same thing, only negative. Being too uncomfortable in your own skin, second guessing and being too uncomfortable to do anything changes everything for the worse.

If you know what they like, just do it. Send that text, ask that question, be curious, do a check in, offer your support, ask for it, send that cute little note on a random tuesday, give them flowers, set up that date, make or buy them dinner, do the dishes, initiate conversation, show you care, be thoughtful. Go where or do that thing that makes you feel only slightly icky but means a lot to them, it will mean so much more. Tell them you appreciate them, text them you want to bone em.

Connection is few and rare in between, but it dies when all you do is wait and take instead of nourishing it. It's always the little things. Go be decisive, young ones. (and the old ones too)

One example:

Some decisive things I'll never forget an ex did was check up on me after we met/started talking, on several different platforms when I disappeared for a few days. He just respectfully, genuinely asked if I were okay and that there was no need to respond or do so right away. He just said he hoped that I was alright because I haven't been responsive for 3 or so days. I was going through a stressful time, and those check ins helped pulled me out of it and sealed that relationship for him. After that, there were other things such as, he remembered I was into classical music and who my favorite current pianist was and bought us tickets for his show on our first date (he didn't say it was, in fact, I named it the first date just for that fact), got me food, sent check ins and despite our taste in music being completely different, made me a playlist.

Those were just a few decisive things I've come to appreciate and will always remember even after the relationship has long ended w/o the desire to rekindle it.

Respectively, I've done some decisive actions and steps as well in my connections that went unappreciated, unreciprocated and needs unmet that led to changes on how I felt about it. And right now I do enjoy being given the space to be able to decisive too. It will make you feel good as well.

People will remember what you did. They will remember that you tried. But they will also remember that you didn't.