By now you know I’m not a big fan of hard & fast dating rules. However, there is one rule that no matter who you are, who you are dating or what your circumstances are, that you’d be a fool not to follow. Drumroll, please….! Never ever NEVER ditch your gal pals when dating a new guy. I’m sure that this is not revelating news to you, but seriously, this is serious. Simply put, your girlfriends are an incredibly positive force in your life. They are the ones that will be there for life, no matter what happens… IF, and this is a big fat conditional if, if you nurture those relationships with or without a boyfriend in your life. The girl who ditches her friends when she is coupled-up, not only doesn’t benefit from the support system during that time (which is sooooo helpful!), but she runs a very high risk of not being able to re-cultivate those relationships when either she needs someone to bring her breakup chocolate, or when she wants to call on them for bridesmaid duty. Friendships are fragile and they need to be tended to. Friendships are not treasures that you either have time for or don’t have time for.. they are gifts that you must make time for in order to have the most fulfilling life possible.