Why I'm Proud to Be Not-So-NBK

This thoughtful and funny piece comes from hair and makeup vlogger AlexisTheHairGirl! Hooray for Kiss 13! –Sparkitors

There is a gigantic amount of NBK pride around SparkLife, and it’s awesome. I admire and respect all of you, but… I’m not part of your club. Not by a long shot.

I've kissed 13 boys, most of them more than once. And if you’re wondering whether I’ve been called certain names, yes, I have. But when it comes to kissing, I have no regrets. See, I look at myself now and I’m not ashamed of what I see. I know that each of the boys who came in and out of my life left behind more than just chapstick stuffed in couch cushions and text messaging bills—they left lessons, and they left experiences. And if that leaves me with a scarlet letter, so be it.

Here’s what I’ve learned from 13 kisses:

Kiss 1: Never do something just to say you’ve done it. A minor meaningful experience will always trump a grand empty one.
Kiss 2: Just because someone is older doesn’t mean they are wiser (or cuter or nicer or more charming for that matter).
Kiss 3: Don’t obsessively text someone. If they aren’t responding, it isn’t because there’s a problem with their cell service. If it’s been three days and they haven’t responded, give it up.
Kiss 4: While life would be dull without fantasy, keep a touch of reality. If someone looks like Prince Charming doesn’t act it, he’s probably just a toad.
Kiss 5: Just because he plays basketball, doesn’t mean being with him makes you cool. However, any boy who continues a friendship with you after the kissery is over is a good egg.
Kiss 6: It’s not romantic when a boy says “You either love me or nobody.” It’s creepy, and you need to break up with him. It’s not love when he doesn’t value your happiness in the same way he does his own.
Kiss 7: Players are bad. So are Clingers. A combination of the two results in a horrendous mutated beast who will make you feel guilty for not loving him while he dates someone else.
Kiss 8: If by dating him you’re risking something precious to you, it isn’t worth it. No second guessing.
Kiss 9: Vacation Flings=Seriously? Sheesh. Hang out with your family, the people who will still be in your life in a month. (Actually, that rule applies to every kiss on this list.)
Kiss 10: Love makes you blind to two things: being used, and ungodly amounts of facial hair. Also, dating the senior class president WILL make you cool. (Just kidding. Mostly.)
Kiss 11: Leading guys on won’t make you feel any better after Mr. President breaks up with you.
Kiss 12: Playboys who drive red trucks and flirt with girls over Facebook don’t help, either.
Kiss 13: Ignore what the random gossip girls say. Forget what the masses whisper. When you see sincerity, and your parents and best friends like him, that’s what matters. And that’s what will make you happy.

So here I am, proud to wear my scarlet letter, because all my experiences helped me grow as a person. People take different routes to find out who they are, and it’s not my place to say which one is right, but this one was right for me. It's my opinion, Kiss 13 wouldn't have even been on my radar if I hadn't known all I’d learned from the first 12 kisses. And we just celebrated our six-month anniversary!

Ahh, happy endings. What lessons have you learned from kisses?

Related post: NBK and PROUD: A New Mankler Point of View

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