I’m not going to lie- being single can be a huge downer when you’re a hopeless romantic like myself. You immediately think something is cute and then take a step back and get bummed out that you don’t have that in your life. I love watching romantic movies and seeing all the happy endings, but then again I don’t. Afterwards, I just feel uneasy about my own life. Granted I am so incredibly happy for those I know that are in amazing relationships. They give me something to look forward to one day. But it can be unsettling when you have been single for a while. I often start to wonder, “Is it me? Am I not outgoing enough? Or good looking? Or smart?” I’d like to believe that none of those thoughts about myself are true. That I just haven’t found the right person yet. But let’s face it, it’s pretty hard to keep a positive attitude about the situation when it’s important to you to have someone to share your life with. I think that’s why it bothers me so much. No, I am not superficial for wanting to get married some day. I don’t think it’s wrong to want to find your soul mate. I don’t think it’s ridiculous to plan your future. When I think about my future, I picture a husband and kids in it. It’s not superficial, it’s practical. I understand that my “plans” can change at any time, but I don’t think it’s wrong to say that it’s important to me to make an effort to find someone I truly want to spend the rest of my life with. I see so many people I know with amazing relationships. I want a relationship like my parents have, or my brothers with their girlfriends, or my friends with their boyfriends. I want so badly to have that kind of connection with someone else for the rest of my life. There’s a lot of pressure nowadays for women to be independent and to show girl power and what not. And that’s amazing! But I don’t think wanting to find your soul mate makes you less of a woman at all. Getting a degree and a career is my main priority, but can’t I make an effort to meet someone that I could potentially share my future with? I can still be a strong woman with a career while having my soul mate by my side supporting me every step of the way.

So no, I do not think it’s superficial to want a boyfriend and to take dating very seriously. I think it’s beautiful. The idea of finding the person you were meant to be with is an amazing thought to me. I hope to one day find that person and share the rest of my life with them. I am not superficial. I am a strong woman, who just wants to share her life with the man God meant her to be with someday.