Dating, to people, can mean completely different things.

Hear the clear and thoughtful words of Jay Ellis, who said: “Dating, to people, can mean completely different things.” Though brief, these words carry the weight of timeless understanding. They remind us that what one heart calls love, another may call curiosity; what one sees as commitment, another may see as play. Beneath this simple observation lies a great truth of the human condition: that every soul, shaped by its own story, its own wounds and dreams, sees the world—and the act of loving—through a different lens. To understand this truth is to walk the path of empathy, patience, and wisdom.

The origin of this saying lies in the reflections of Jay Ellis, an actor and storyteller who has observed human relationships both on and off the screen. In his world of art and expression, he has seen how the word “dating”, though universal in sound, carries infinite meanings. To some, it is a step toward union and lifelong partnership; to others, it is an exploration, a dance of discovery; to still others, it is fleeting companionship, a momentary connection in a restless age. His words arise not from cynicism, but from recognition—that in matters of the heart, clarity is not a given, and that understanding must precede expectation.

The ancients, too, spoke of this multiplicity of meaning. The Greek philosophers named love in many forms—Eros, the passionate fire; Philia, the love of friendship; Agape, the selfless devotion; and Storge, the tender affection of family. Each was love, yet each was different in nature and intent. Confusion arose only when people mistook one for another, when Eros was sought where Agape was required, or when desire was mistaken for duty. In the same way, Ellis’s words remind us that dating is not one thing, but many, and that harmony can only exist when both souls know the song they are singing.

Consider the story of Helen of Troy, whose beauty launched a thousand ships and ignited the flames of war. To her lover, Paris, their union was an act of destiny—a love ordained by the gods. To her husband, Menelaus, it was betrayal. To the soldiers who followed, it was honor and vengeance. One act, many meanings—and in that clash of interpretations, the world was torn apart. So it is in our time, though the wars are quieter. When two hearts enter the realm of love with different understandings, there is conflict not of armies, but of emotions. To know what love means to another is not a trivial thing—it is the foundation of peace between hearts.

Ellis’s observation is also a mirror held to our modern age, where communication is abundant but understanding is scarce. In the realm of dating, where words are easily sent but feelings are rarely spoken, people often project their own meanings upon another’s silence. One may see a single meeting as the beginning of forever; another may see it as a fleeting spark meant only for the moment. The wise among us learn not to assume, but to ask—to speak not only with charm, but with honesty. For in love, as in all human endeavors, truth is the only soil where trust can grow.

There is also a subtler wisdom here: that differences in meaning do not have to divide—they can deepen our compassion. When we recognize that others see the world differently, we begin to love not through control, but through understanding. The ancient mystic Rumi once said, “The beauty you see in me is a reflection of you.” In Ellis’s truth, we hear an echo of that teaching: that every person’s understanding of love reflects their journey—their past joys, their heartbreaks, their hopes. To love well, one must first listen deeply, not only to words, but to the silences between them.

Thus, children of the future, let this teaching take root in your hearts: before you love, seek to understand; before you expect, seek to communicate. Do not assume that another’s path mirrors your own, for each traveler walks under a different sky. Speak clearly, listen openly, and approach love not as a conquest, but as a conversation. If you find someone whose meaning of love aligns with your own, cherish that harmony as you would a rare and precious melody.

For in the end, as Jay Ellis reminds us, the mystery of love is not to be feared, but to be respected. Its meanings are as varied as the stars in the heavens—each shining with its own light, each revealing something of the infinite. To love wisely, then, is not to impose one’s meaning upon another, but to discover together what love—and dating, and connection—can truly become when two hearts meet in mutual understanding.