Over the last 2 years, dating has been quite an adventure . . . busy, challenging, changing, a little crazy, and a lot of fun! A couple dozen months and a couple dozen guys later, when I look in the rearview, there are a few who earned a spot on my roadmap. Some broke my heart, and others repaired it in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. Each had an impact and is a story worth telling. So, this one is for (and about) them . . .
The Fast and Furious One. You disappeared just as quickly as you appeared, but you managed to leave quite a trail in your wake. I thought I was falling for you, but I really just fell for what I thought you could be. And yet you were the turning point in my dating life – nothing was quite the same afterwards. It shocks me that you ended up being the one to provide the greatest closure . . . 14 months later. LOL. Thank you for being the whirlwind I didn’t know I needed. And for throwing me into new possibilities – through both what you offered and denied me.
The Slow and Steady One. You were the guy who was just too nice to break up with . . . because, seriously, you really are one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. A gentleman to your core, you reminded me that patience is both a virtue and an igniter in relationships. Even in distance, you were a steady stronghold. Then the universe decided to put as much distance between us as physically possible. And even when I found out you were headed to the other side of the globe, I still considered trying to make it work. But God had other plans. Thank you for reminding me that anything worth having is worth developing, but also showing me that careful construction of a relationship can sometimes yield places of comfort . . . ones that we aren’t meant to stay in.
The Special Delivery. You were a brief one, and unfairly dropped right in the midst of my heartache, but you came bearing a message I needed: to always stay open, but never settle. You were a package deal I just couldn’t take on, but our quick snippet was all it took. Thank you for being the bridge that brought me to where I was supposed to be.
The Passionate One. Being with you was an escape. The way you viewed the world and valued life was contagious. A short time into dating, circumstances changed, and we suddenly had an expiration date. You gave me the out, right then and there . . . but I opted in anyway. I could’ve ejected – maybe saved myself the time and energy – but I just didn’t want to. Instead, I wanted you. You gifted me a new form of confidence because you had a special way of celebrating others, and you did that so well for me. But we both had dreams, and they just didn’t overlap. With neither of us willing to change course, there was just no way forward together. Thank you for giving me a little glimpse into what could be, and for reminding me that sometimes rules are made to be broken.
The Thinker. You had a reason for everything – even one (and an elaborate one, at that!) for why you didn’t want to date me. Well played, by the way – I *almost* chalked it up to you actually being too busy. LOL. Extremely logical, absurdly self-aware, and somehow, so much fun to talk to . . . for hours. But you showed me that you can talk yourself out of anything if you think about it long enough. Thank you for reminding me that dating is built on, not only perspective, but priorities.
The Wild Card. Seriously, I never knew what I was going to get with you. More importantly, I never knew how I was going to respond! Nothing about you was certain, and yet something about you was so grounding. That something wasn’t enough, but it certainly counted. You just weren’t ready, and timing is everything. I knew I couldn’t change your heart, but I hope I helped you heal it just a bit. The right girl is coming for you, and trust me, she’ll be worth the wait. Thank you for letting me live in the moment with you, and for reminding me that I deserve to be someone’s first choice. Even if, for now, that someone is me.
Clearly, it’s been a ride, but one (made up of many parts) that I wouldn’t trade. I’ve taken and received, doubted, and believed. Been too trusting at times, and sometimes not trusting enough. Fought harder than I thought I would, and thought about giving up. I’ve walked away and been walked away from. Laughed, cried, loved, learned, fallen flat on my face, and shamelessly tried. And that’s why you all were so important, even if none of you were the one.
