Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

As a single, female, and recent college graduate, the world is begging to find out why I'm not looking for love. (Well, maybe not the world...but a handful of family and friends). I have made a few different goals for the New Year and I have put time and effort into allowing myself to reach those goals. But why isn't finding love on my resolution list? It's simple: love will find me when I am ready.

If we are all searching for love, doesn't that sound like a recipe for disaster? Many of us are just walking around trying to make people fall in love with us. Or worse, falling in love with the wrong person over and over again. I’ve been in committed relationships that haven’t worked for one reason or another; this year I’m waiting until I’ve accomplished other goals first. Why would I be searching for love when it has failed me time after time?

Don't get me wrong, I am not closed off to finding love this year. In fact, I would enjoy finding a male to fall in love with! But I refuse to make it a goal to find that person. An old high school teacher of mine once told me, "We live for nothing more than to love and to be loved." If that is true, which it very well may be, then it will inevitably happen at some point. I see failed relationships all around me, why would I force myself into the same misery? (Shoutout to my friends and family in amazing relationships, too!)

I guess what I am trying to make clear is that I am open to love, but I'm not searching for love. I have fallen in love in the past, dedicated my life to making it work, then realized that we weren't meant to be. I have decided to be more patient this year. That means I will wait until God gives me the "go" and then I will test the waters. Why would I spend my year trying to find love, when there are so many other goals I want to accomplish?

As a recent college graduate, I have a long to-do list for 2018. I am starting graduate school, I am looking for a job, I am moving out of my house, and I am trying to better my health and maintain stress levels. If Prince Charming walks in, I'll gladly be his Cinderella. Until then, I'll be focusing on goals that are achievable with or without him.