Someone, 24, from Somewhere, asks:

Hi Victor, I stumbled on this blog and I couldn't stop reading, love all of your advice. Now for my question.

I liked a guy before, but I was too quick to reveal my true feelings when he asked me out, so that didn't last too long. I decided to have my guard up for the next guy that comes along, plus my friends were telling me guys like the chase. Well, guy #2 was chasing me. He was the sweetest, most affectionate guy ever and he kept telling me how much I'm growing on him, even though I kept telling him I don't want to jump into anything too quickly. Well when I decided that he seems like a really nice guy so let me put my guard down for him, I got hurt. This has been a pattern. Guys fall for me all the time, but when the chase is over they don't want me and that's when I get hurt. What gives? Am I supposed to permanently keep my guard up or keep playing games to prevent myself from developing feelings? After all, once I started liking the guy the chase is over and he's going to hurt me. What is a girl supposed to do?

VictorM's advice:

You're suppose to keep trying. What else are you going to do? This is what dating is all about. And yes, getting hurt is part of the price you pay while searching for a life-time partner. Finding and keeping the right partner is not easy. If it was, there would be no country western music.