What's the ultimate way to get over a breakup? If you're using Naya Rivera's playbook, it's to start dating someone new as soon as possible. The "Glee" star was engaged and married this year-to two completely different guys. After breaking off her engagement to rapper Big Sean in April, Rivera married longtime friend Ryan Dorsey in July. Oh, also: The wedding happened on the day she originally was supposed to marry Big Sean. Yikes.
After discussing this topic with my friends recently, we came to the conclusion that rebound dating is totally disastrous.
You never get to know yourself and what truly makes you happy if you're constantly boo'd up, suffering from what I like to call the Kim Kardashian Syndrome. How do you then expect anyone else to bring happiness into your life? News flash: They can't! Spend some time with yourself and get to know your likes and dislikes. Find out what needs to be fixed in your life. Maybe it's not everyone else; it might be you.
Also, not only does rebound dating block you from getting in tune with yourself, it also hinders potential true love from entering your life. You're keeping yourself from seeing the "right one" coming along because you constantly have a new boo attached to your hip.
How often does rebound dating turn into a long-lasting relationship? I'll go with 3 percent of the time, and that's being generous. Essentially you're just setting yourself up for more heartache. Instead of carrying that emotional baggage from one relationship to the next, do everyone a favor and DON'T! Stop turning to someone new hoping to fix the past.
So since no one could save Naya Rivera from the pitfalls of dating in her 20s, I hope to help rescue someone else from that cycle of stupidity. Of course, I'm FAR from a relationship expert, but I know a thing or two about dating while dumb-especially during my early 20s.
If you see a woman in your life, young or old, jumping from relationship to relationship, don't let her go down that path. Remember, friends don't let friends suffer from Kim Kardashian Syndrome.
Lela Olds is a RedEye special contributor.