Everyone has their own little quirks and habits that set them apart from anyone else. That's wonderful, and that's how it should be. Life would be boring if everyone was the same: same height, same clothing, same hair color, same dry sense of humor ... I'm bored just thinking about it. Differences across the human spectrum are not intended to create wars and controversies, but rather they are intended to create a variety of people to love, to find people who complement our sense of self, or find a life partner or a best friend who fills in the gaps we have ("I hate cooking, but I love to grocery shop and I find great deals!" pairs great with "I go to culinary school so I don't have time to grocery shop"). For some reason, people make it more difficult than necessary to discover the true self and to truly get to know a person --including their habits they wish no one knew about. No! Let's share our weirdest habits and quirks quickly so we can find those people who are ultimately our other half. So, here are some things every person should know about me, whether we talk in passing, we want to be friends, or you're that special someone in my life.

I'm a bit sarcastic.

Sometimes, it's not even obvious. I think sass and sarcasm might actually be my first language, because I speak it more fluently than I do English.

If you can keep up with my language and can even throw it back at me, we'll get along just fine. And if we begin to have conversations solely through sassing each other, then you're the one.

I always worry that I am mean/not good enough/etc.

You'll probably get annoyed of my constantly asking you if you are mad at me, or if you hate me, or if I did something to upset you. If I keep asking you this, it is my way of telling you that I care very deeply for you and value our relationship. Sometimes I don't notice if I said something hurtful, or if I am not working hard enough to maintain our relationship, so I'll just check in with you and see how we're doing. I don't do it as self-gratification -- I do it because I truly want to make sure that I am treating you as you want to and deserve to be treated.

I am always stressed about something.

Money, relationships, school work, jobs, cleaning, cooking, driving, injuries, etc. You name it and I have probably cried about it while on the phone with my mom. I keep myself busy, so busy in fact that I sometimes put too much on my plate (and not even in the good la nourriture kind of way).

What do you mean I can't work two part-time jobs, live on my own, maintain relationships, join clubs, exercise, and go to school?

Money will always be the biggest issue, so if you happen to be the lucky man (See? Sarcasm.) to date me/engage me/marry me, know that I did not come from much money. I had plenty to survive, and was still more than pampered by my family -- but money didn't come in a bottomless bag: we budget, we shop deals, we DIY what we can, and we treat ourselves when we are able. So yes, if we live together and you buy "us" something we don't need, I will most likely get upset about it. It doesn't mean that I don't love you nor appreciate the thought and the purchase; it just means that I am worried about making sure we will have enough money for our bills, our necessities, and maybe be able to put a bit in savings.

There's clean, and then there is the way I (emphasis on "I") like things clean.

My mom will easily admit she's a bit of a clean freak -- okay, maybe not a clean freak but she just likes everything to be put away and in its proper place and no dust or animal hair, etc. To give you an idea on what my kind of clean is: we buy the Costco packs of Lysol wipes, we have an unknown large number of house cleaners, stove cleaners, carpet shampoos, bathroom cleaners, dusters, and who knows what else hidden throughout the house.

So here's the deal then. I don't just like to have things clean, I like them spick-and-span, clean as a whistle, spotless. You cooked? Wipe off the stove with a disinfectant wipe. You bought groceries? Put it all away right away, and make sure you do it according to the organization system (canned corn in with the chips? What were you thinking?). I don't want to step on dirt or clumps of hair or leftover food. Vacuum/mop/sweep/pick it up. Please. For your own sanity.

Don't scare me or pull pranks on me.

Unless you want to see my ugly cry, shaking, or are okay with my wrath. It's not a pretty sight.

I am a very straight-forward and serious person, so pranks and scares don't go over well. I also have that fear of being murdered in my own house, so scaring me only makes me more terrified.

I am passionate.

About you, our relationship, school, work, exercise, family, etc. Trust that I will never stop trying to be my best self for you, and I will always do my best to make you happy. I will go above and beyond to make you or anyone else feel happy and make it known that I love and cherish them. If I want to do something special for you, let me. I'm just trying to show you how much I care, and if you shut me down it will make me feel like you don't care.

So, there it is. Some, and definitely not all, of my biggest quirks and things people might take issue with when they are getting to know me. The theory goes that once you accept your flaws, no one can use them against you. So accept them, love them, share them, and find your mutually weird people and call it love!