Little girls around the world have grown up watching fairy tales and dreaming of the days when they find their perfect other halves. We want to find our Prince Charming, who will defeat every dragon in the way of saving us, or our very own Noah, who writes us every day for a year, even if there is no post on Sundays. Needless to say, we have extremely high expectations for the person we decide to spend the rest of our lives with, because who wants to commit to subpar?
I recently came across an article on a popular website for sorority women across the country that was shedding light on why some girls find themselves perpetually single. While some of the points held value, such as needing to get your own life a little more together before bringing someone else into it or just not quite being over past relationships, there was one point that I absolutely had to disagree with.
The article's last reason for why a woman may be continuously striking out suggests that she may be setting the bar for a significant other way too high.
Maybe I am just young and naive, but I firmly believe that the person you decide to settle down with should meet your standards. Now, I know that not every guy in the world can look like Dr. McDreamy, but, if you keep an open mind, you will find someone who makes you praise the stars above that you never had the chance to marry Patrick Dempsey. It may not be Ryan Gosling himself either, but, if your husband cannot sweep you off of your feet and leave you never wanting to stand on solid ground again, he is not the one for you.
He does not have to be a perfect 10, but he does have to be perfect for you and it doesn't have to be a Nicholas Sparks novel, as long as you are both writing it together. Everyone looking for someone to love deserves someone who loves and respects them just as fiercely. Love yourself enough to know that, if you feel like you are settling, you should look for something more. Find someone you can be extraordinary with, not just ordinary.
Hoping to find the love of your life is not asking too much— you may just have to be willing to wait long enough for it to come along.
There are some things in life that are replaceable and we it comes to them, we can afford to settle: first apartments, off-brand shampoo, messy hair days, detergent scents. A husband is not one of them. I will take single and happy any day over married and full of regrets. Your Prince Charming will come, even if you've kissed a few frogs before finding the right one.
