I get one of two reactions when I tell someone I’ve never dated anyone. They either accept it and move on with the conversation or (more commonly) they look stunned for a second and quickly recover with a not-so-smooth, “What? Why?”

There are a lot of factors. I usually just say, “Ehhh, I’m too picky,” if I want to get out of the conversation quickly. Today, though, I’m going to take a closer look at that excuse.

I’ve written extensively about some of my various self-esteem issues. Though I usually come across as self-confident (sometimes too much so), deep down I don’t always think very highly of myself. Therefore, my “pickiness” is not necessarily rooted in a belief that I’m better than anyone.

They say that, when looking for a romantic partner, a person is usually attracted to those who are similar to his or her parent(s). For me, I know that I’ll probably get along best with someone who’s kind of like my dad. And there’s the rub.

My father is the most wonderful father a girl could ask for.

In fact, my father is the most wonderful person I know.

Dad was the one who my brother and I always wanted to go shopping with when we were kids, because we knew that Dad would rarely say no if we wanted a new toy or a soda. Dad was the one who’d spontaneously take us mini-golfing or out for ice cream. He was always willing to take me to Daddy-Daughter dances on Valentine’s Day, even though he knew I’d just end up hanging out with my friends when we got there. He’s the most patient and kind person I know. (Let it be noted that my mother is pretty darn awesome herself. I was seriously blessed in the family department.)

I remember the exact moment when I realized that my dad was probably too kind for his own good: someone was playing a game on the softball field his team was scheduled to be using, and he refused to ask them to leave. The first time I ever saw my dad cry was during a wedding for which he was officiating, and sometimes he gets teary-eyed during sermons -- usually when he’s preaching about love and mercy. What could be more admirable?

Even though I’m now old enough to be dating, I still haven’t dated – much to the chagrin of some of my family members. I recently realized that one of the things that I really have been looking for in a partner is a man who is as kind and loving as my father is (and who is interested in me, but that’s just a minor detail). Obviously, there are many things factoring into my decision not to date yet, but one of the biggest has got to be the ridiculously high standard that my father set.

I could fight it, but this is part of who I am, and I'm okay with that.