Friday, January 20, 2012

All by Myself

About six months ago I decided to enter the world of online dating. I wasn't having much luck in my good old hometown, considering most people who live here are married. Upon hearing several success stories I signed up for an account.

I always thought online dating would be my last, desperate attempt to get a guy. I also thought that I would instantly meet my soul mate. I don't know what I was thinking, maybe I just flat out wasn't.

The first guy that I communicated with was very handsome and successful. I was flattered and enjoying the conversation. I began picturing in my head what it would be like to date him. (Yes, before I even went on a date. I know.) Then one day, he just stopped communicating. This scenario was repeated about a million times during my online dating career. Fortunately I learned to quit picturing anything.

There were also a lot of... um interesting people. Like the forty year old who was divorced and had custody of his children and then had random miscellaneous kids living with him. Or the occasional I'm stuck in the eighties person.

In total I received around 350 matches in the six months I was on there. Want to guess how many dates I ended up going on? Go ahead guess.

One. I went on one date. I considered it successful because he wasn't a murderer and I didn't embarrass myself. Unfortunately, we just weren't a good match.

I had already decided to not renew before this. It's expensive and wasn't worth it. Plus I've decided, if it's meant to be it will happen.

And besides, the older I'm getting the more I realize that being by yourself isn't as scary as it seems. It can actually be exciting and self-confidence boosting when you do something by yourself. For now I can say this part of my life definitely doesn't suck.

I've experienced things that people who marry young typically don't. I've stayed in a foreign country by myself, taken photography classes, learned how to do my taxes, I'm about to buy a car on my own. I can't describe the feeling of independence I get when I get to do these things on my own and one day I'll have to give up some of this. So for now, I'm a single lady. And I'm going to enjoy it.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Not What I Expected

I remember when I was in the second grade my family decided to move. We had picked out a new house in a new city, it was only fifteen minutes away but when you're eight that's a world away. I was so excited, until reality set in. I can remember distinctly sitting on my mom's bed in the old house bawling because I didn't want to leave. She reminded me that I had voted to move, but that was little consolation at that point. I didn't want to leave the familiar.

Of course my parents had already sold the house (in one day!) and bought another. We moved into the new house and started going to school at a new school. At first I hated it. I couldn't make friends at my new school and it was way harder academically than my old one. All of my neighbors were old. At my previous house I had friends on either side of me. (On a completely unrelated note, they were really my fiances. Yes, both of them.)

With time I adjusted to the change. I made some awesome friends and the new house became my home. I even learned (somewhat) to keep up academically at my new school.

You see, I'm just not someone who likes change. Usually I like the idea of it, but the actual occurrence? No way. I like stability. Unfortunately I think sometimes that places me in a rut because even if something stinks it's familiar and stable.

But I don't want my life to pass me by just so I can have familiarity. I want my life to have excitement and passion. With the new year came resolutions to find both of those things. Resolutions are great. I must think so given that I have twelve of them. I also wanted to think of three words that describe what I'm looking for in 2012. I finally found them: progress, love, and faith.

Do you have any resolutions? Are you afraid of change like me?

Saturday, January 7, 2012

It's No Big Deal

It's no big deal, but...

The other day on my lunch break I went to Target to pick up some items I needed. I had no clue I would get such an awesome deal.
That's right, I bought some Greek Gods (plural!) at Target for $4.29. Forget E-Harmony! I've always wanted to prance around Greece wearing a long, white dress and gold sandals. Call me Athena from here on out.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

A Few of My Favorite Things

Oprah has a list of her favorite things, but since she doesn't have a talk show anymore I'm taking over. My favorite things are cheaper anyways. Here's my list in pictures.

Sitting by a campfire,

A dog laying at my feet,
Laughing with friends,

And watching a baby sleep.

Beat that Oprah.