Guidance

3 Things that I am learning about dating in my 30s.

Image from Unsplash

Image from Unsplash

When I was 21, 10 years ago, I had expected my life to be different. I was a bartender at a restaurant in Soho, NYC, and I thought that I had met the love of my life. At that time he was. And, so is anyone that I choose to spend my time, energy and life with. 

Little did I know that I would go on to almost get married again and be in a few long term relationships. I am grateful for every single things that I have learnt along the way because it has led me to who I am today. Yes, it also took work! But, I needed the experiences to be able to apply what I had learnt so that I could grow. 

I have previously been fully open about how I thought that I would be married and have kids by now. A life that I still sometimes mourn but I know that I am exactly where I am meant to be because I don’t see myself in a life-long partnership with anyone from past. 

As I date, I am learning a lot and it is an amazing experience to do in my 30s. Now that I have more confidence, boundaries and clarity. Here is what I am learning about dating in my 30s: 

1. I don’t owe anyone anything. 

Contrary to how a lot of us are raised, we think that we are owed something. This creates a sense of dependency. When I was younger, I felt like if someone paid for a date, bought me something or told me that they were committed to me that I had to stick around. I have learnt that this is not the case. Potential and reality are two different things. If someone wants a future with you, they need to work at it. Whatever that means for you and that person. 

I am now so comfortable with the notion that unless someone puts forward the necessary action to sustain a relationship, I would rather leave because nothing but them will make them do so- no matter how ‘great’ or ‘convincing’ I might be. 

2. No more fitting into what someone else wants me to be. 

I spent a lot of my 20s pretending to be who someone else wanted me to be. Whether it was for a job, a family member or a romantic partner. Those days are no longer. I know who I am and I am enough. I am exactly who I am meant to be. Which doesn’t mean that I don’t do work on myself but it means that I can be grateful for where I have been and for who I am because I have a lot to be proud of. 

I don’t need to be someone else to be liked or loved. I am worthy of love exactly as I am. 

3. Respect is essential. 

I have always believed that love wasn’t enough but it wasn’t until I dealt with men and situations that proved it to me. I don’t walk around jaded by the past but my previous experiences have allowed me to grow. I am grateful for all of them and for all the people who came into my life. 

I used to date a guy who was a Chef and wouldn’t reply to my text messages for a few days or ever, would look at other women while we were on dates and, was wishy-washy about our future. I saw his potential and was afraid to look at his behaviour to realize that it wasn’t for me. Because these little signs lead to a bigger one, it differs person-to-person but (in this case) he wasn’t ready to commit to someone else at that time. Which was later revealed to me. 

So now, I no longer look at potential but who is in front of me. Just because someone isn’t ready to commit to me, doesn’t make them bad or deceiving. It just means that they are not for me and I am not for them. There is no need for resentment or anger. 

Dear God, I pray for guidance.

Image from Unsplash

Image from Unsplash

Dear God, 

I pray for guidance. 

I agreed to forgive the betrayal in my last relationship and let him back in as a friend. However, I am struggling. Sometimes, when I see a pretty girl or someone who I believe to be his ‘type’, I go back to feeling emotional pain and it hurts me to my core. 

I know that this person is a dear friend and I am grateful for his presence in my life but I struggle moving passed the past. Please help me?

How am I suppose to be at peace with someone who hurt me so deeply? Am I on the right track? I am a firm-believer in forgiveness and this relationship has helped me grow in so many ways that I never knew possible but I’m not sure that I am strong enough to have him in my life when I am continuously reminded of what happened to me. 

I spend so much time thinking about taking the high road that sometimes I forget to be realistic. God, can we realistically continue this friendship with the acknowledgment that I don’t want to be involved in a romantic relationship with this person again. Or, is he putting on a façade around me so that I will take him back and he can do what he did to all over again? Is our connection genuine? Or, deceit?

God, please help me move forward with forgiveness and peace? I need you. I am stuck and I don’t want to toy around with another person’s loyalty, love and devotion. 


Is this friendship sincere? Has he evolved? If not, please give me strength that I need to swallow the truth and protect myself accordingly?


Amen.

Dear God, did I give up too soon?

IMG_6945.JPG

Image from Unsplash

 

Dear God,


Please guide me. I need your direction.


You gave me all these signs and lead me to someone who seems so broken and in pain. And, we all know about people who are broken and in pain, they replicate it onto others. I have dealt out my share of pain onto others and received a fair hand enough to know that that is the foundation of a healthy relationship.


I have done too much work on myself to be lead backwards. I only want to move forward. God, guide me to light. I’m tired of being on the journey of light alone. You promised me a partner.


A partner who is kind, loving and supportive. I can do it alone but I would prefer this journey to be with another and with the person that you lead me to. However, his actions have shown me that he is not prepared for the light. He chases light but once he has it, sabotages it. I don’t have the energy or time to hold someone accountable for their own guidance to light, that has to come from him. Because I will only become more resentful if I stay and he continues to behave like this.

 

I am worth respect, kindness, compassion and a healthy form of love. God, a part of me is afraid that if I walk from this man then I will never be with my soulmate. The one who you told me was my true love. So, I am not sure what to do. I choose to be with someone who puts me first and will not settle for anything else.


God, please guide me? You know what is best. You’ve shown me before, please show me again? I want to stand up for myself and what I believe in and also be with my soulmate. Is this possible? I am done with my Ego. I am done with facades; I just want to be true. True in love, true in self, true in wealth and true in presence.


I know that this is possible, please guide me? I am patient. I trust you. You have never let me down.


Sincerely,