Can Men and Women Just be Friends ?

Recently I've taken up the game of golf and signed up with a golf pro named Michael. I didn't realize it at first, but eventually I found myself very attractive to Michael. I didn't know if it were appropriate to cross the line, or even how to approach the subject. We have weekly lessons and always go out with a group of his golf pro buddies to the bar for a drink. We've developed a a great friendship and now I wonder, can men and women be just friends?

Often, when men and women become friends it's because they’ve worked closely together, met each other through family members, or known each other since childhood. Whatever the circumstances, the familiarity makes them feel more like siblings. You usually find that you can act more like yourselves around each other and you don’t feel pressure to impress them, or to look your best all the time.

It's a lifelong question whether men and women can really be friends, for the most part, men aren't usually looking to add female friends to their roster of buddies and vice versa. When you break it down to the opposite sex, we're usually all looking for the one. Until we find our one and only we tend to enjoy casual dating and flings.

If you have a male friend that you love to hang out with ( for me, it's Michael), one of you may want to keep the option open for some sort of connection( that would be me in this situation,) if not right now, then perhaps some time in the future. Most mixed friendships start out as friends with the possible chance for something more, that’s why what makes them so tricky.

Friendships are based on mutual attraction and compatibility and because it’s fun to spend time together. The potential for romance is ripe. Attraction and compatibility are the foundation for close relationships, so the bridge from friendship to romance is technically already built. The question is when, if ever, it will be crossed.

More often than not, we are afraid to take the chance to find out. You don’t want to risk or lose the friendship that is already established and rather live out the possibility of it in our heads.

The bond between friends is forged with acceptance, understanding, respect, trust, and compassion. These are the same ingredients that make for a more serious relationship based on love. For many friends, it’s a endearing moment, a small gesture of affection, or a thoughtful act that sparks the flame and takes them across the bridge.

So, the bottom line is that men and women can be friends, but the bridge to romance – and the possibility of crossing it - almost always exists. I'll just have to wait and see what becomes of my friendship.