The one who served a purpose

I was in a relationship for 7 years of my younger life. I'm now 3 years into "dating" and quite frankly, it gets harder and harder with every new guy. You begin to realize what you want and more importantly, what you don't want....down to the most minute characteristic. For example, "after Brad, I just can't see myself dating someone who likes country music" or "after Frank, I will never date someone who can't parallel park". And yes, these are definitely excuses but they are things you add to your subconscious, ever-growing checklist of successful, confident, funny, smart, trustworthy, loyal, my best friend, loves dogs, punctual, opens car door, puts the toilet seat down, puts the cap back on toothpaste, and the list gets increasingly more picky...and increasingly more ridiculous.

UNTIL, you meet that one person who changes your mind about it all.

I recently met someone who threw my checklist out the window. And he proved to me that what I've always wanted is actually very simple. Someone who can make you smile and who accepts you for you - the good, the bad, and the ugly. For some reason, we never allow ourselves to justify that simplicity. But...

We all know - when you meet someone who you're just 50/50 about, your mind over-rationalizes why he is or isn't the one....and it's always the littlest, most non-important things that tip the scale towards no.

Then there's that occasion of when you come across someone that just "fits" you. He's not perfect and maybe he's even far from perfect but the chemistry between you is magical. It trumps everything you ever thought you wanted. It's the type of relationship where it's enough just to be with one another, where silence is accepted, where every kiss is like the last, and the memories of days spent together can make you smile on a whim.

Sadly but with no regret, my story doesn't have the fairy tale ending because...well, I'm not with him any longer. But, he did show me that this special chemistry does exist and even after 3 years of dating the wrong guys, you will find the right guy eventually. And you should wait for it...no matter how long it takes because when you find that person, all the prior days your heart spent longing for it will no longer matter and you will find happiness in every moment following.

I look forward to that day because I know it will all be worth it.