I’m Not In Love With the Man of My Dreams

He doesn’t enjoy working out, and he definitely doesn’t have a golden retriever puppy.

Like most girls, I’ve spent the majority of my life picturing the man I wanted to marry. He was always tall, with beautiful dark hair, and usually had blue or green eyes. He wore a suit to work, loved to workout and run, lived in a high rise condo in some crazy awesome downtown building, played guitar, loved country and rap, and definitely had a dog, probably a golden retriever. The man of my dreams was best friends with my brother, my mom loved him, and he loved to buy me “just because” flowers, Louis Vuitton bags, and take me out for sushi whenever my heart desired.

That was him. That was the man of my dreams, and I knew that I would never settle. Even when my friends told me my standards were a little much, I refused to settle, and guess what?

I’m not in love with the man of my dreams.

The man that I am in love with may be tall with hazel eyes and beautiful hair, but he doesn’t wear a suit to work, hates country music, and definitely is not a dog person. When I pictured the man of my dreams, it wasn’t Lee, not even close.

The best part though? He’s better.

I’ve learned through my life that it’s great to have a plan or an idea of things you want for your life, but don’t let that focus deter you from what could be. Being focused is a great quality, but having blinders on isn’t. Sometimes, we can be so focused on what we think we want, we miss what’s best for us.

Lee isn’t what I thought I wanted, but I also never lowered my standards. At the core of my dream man, was someone who loved me without question, someone I laughed with, someone whose hugs made me feel loved, safe, and special. Someone with whom I never had to question where I stood, and someone that I would be willing to fight for and choose to love every single day.

I never let those standards waiver, but the package I wanted them to come in did.

I love Lee, and I am so happy that he isn’t the man of my dreams. I would have missed out on so many great things if I had only been looking for things on my list.

Maybe he doesn’t play me songs on his guitar, but he shows me the best Youtube videos, and the most random radio show segments. He will never see the value in purchasing a designer bag, but he does love sushi. He isn’t a dog person, but he loves my Payton girl, and he lets her crawl in bed with me, even though he hates it.

My life isn’t what I thought it would be, but it is better than anything I could have imagined for myself.

The moral? Don’t let what you think you want deter you from what you deserve.

Love,

Lilly