How I (Finally) Met Mr. Right

I started dreaming of Mr. Right in my preteens. He would be handsome, smart, and rich. I secretly wondered if every boy I that I developed a crush on could be "the one". I thought that I had found true love at 15, only to be crushed when my boyfriend moved away, broke up with me, and broke my heart.

Fast forward through ten years and countless dates with Mr. Wrong. By my mid-twenties, many of my girlfriends had married guys from whom I would not even accept a second date. Were they settling in order to settle down? I wondered if my standards were too high.

Then I met HIM. They guy who seemed to fulfill my every dream. He was sexy, funny, financially stable, a great dancer, and crazy for me. He moved thousands of miles to be near me. He told me that he wanted to get married and had gone shopping for an engagement ring. He whispered all the right sweet nothings in my ear. And then.......nothing.

There always seemed to be some excuse why we couldn't actually plan a wedding. He was hesitant about introducing me to his family. He never actually gave me that engagement ring.

At first I thought he had just had some negative prior experiences with women and that I would win him over with patience. As years passed and my patience wore thin, I began to suspect that he was not entirely honest with me. Eventually, I realized that he was still sowing oats while stringing me along. I had invested my heart and soul in the relationship and I was devastated. I finally came to conclusion that no matter how lonesome and miserable I might be single, it couldn't be any more miserable than I already felt in my relationship, and I broke things off.

I thought a lot about what things were important to me in a soul mate. Sure, he had to like to dance but he didn't have to be Fred Astaire. Good looks were important, but so was a kind heart. My man didn't need to be poplular but he did need to be friendly and outgoing. I thought less about superficial things and more about qualities that that really last. I no longer wanted someone who would say all the right things and sweep me off my feet. It was more important that he DO the right things.