It's important to have something to look forward to. It's what drives us and leads us through our daily life toward something. Whether they're goals or expectations, it allows us to strive for anything in any aspect of our lives. I am a planner and although it is hard to plan everything (because there are always outside influences), I can still dream about what I'd like my future to look like and what I'd like to see myself accomplish in the years to come.

I love being able to visualize the possibilities I might be able to experience. My Pinterest is filled with boards planning for the unknown. I love creating a board and organizing it based on what I'd like to see happen eventually. One example of that is my wedding board, but God knows when that will actually be put to good use. Or if it will. I hope it will.

As much as I can plan for different parts of my life like a future career or upcoming trips, I know for a fact I can not plan for a guy I'll hopefully fall in love with one day.

But that doesn't mean I can't expect certain things from him or look for certain things from a guy.

It bothers me that there are conversations that women have unreasonable standards or ideals when it comes to men. I think that just means the men getting offended by them are not willing to rise to it for the girl. Spoiler alert: that ain't my future man.

Now, I'm not going to expect a man to check off every single expectation I have for someone. That's not fair to anyone, but I'm really not looking to settle just to be in a relationship which might be different than what society likes to preach. I deserve to dream about the kind of guy I'd love to see myself with.

Of course, I have expectations in the back of my mind that have been influenced by pop culture. I mean who wouldn't love to go to a resort and fall in love with a dance instructor while filling in for his partner? If you don't get the reference then obviously we aren't meant to be (kidding, but Dirty Dancing is a must watch).

My other expectations stem from the relationships I've seen stand the test of time and those that didn't. My parent's marriage wasn't the greatest and though I can't remember much from it, I know that some of the qualities my dad possesses are some I do not want in a future partner.

These are the expectations I choose to stand by rather than any built by fantasy because I've been blessed to see with my own eyes what works and what doesn't through the relationships that have surrounded me. I know what I deserve.