Dooley Noted: 1/14/2016
When I was a little girl, I made a commitment to myself to find a great man with whom to share my life.
I didn’t know what he would look like or how I would meet him.
But I knew how I would feel.
As the years went by, I kept thinking of him. I committed to my own set of life principles and worked hard every day to maintain them.
I wanted to be whole in and of myself before meeting him.
He would not be intimidated by my drive but driven by it.
He would not be threatened by my intelligence but inspired by it.
He was to welcome everything I had to teach him, while he encouraged me to learn from him.
When I was falling under, he was to walk beside me and not save me but help me to save myself.
He would not be distracted by my love but fueled by it.
He would encourage my purpose and never make me feel bad about late nights, early starts, or excessive travels.
He wouldn’t be embarrassed by my affection and would encourage it.
We would talk for hours about topics of all sorts.
We would find the humor in things and laugh until our bellies hurt.
He would see all the beauty that had taken years for me to find within myself.
He would have minimal concern with material things and take pleasure in music, movies, strength, and nature.
He would not be turned off by my commitment to fitness but train alongside me.
And we would never use all the pain in our past as an excuse to put barriers up.
He was hiding in plain sight – and the day I almost missed him was the lowest day of my life.
After a difficult breakup, I almost didn’t keep my appointment with him. But I’m a woman of integrity – so I kept it.
We were to bend steel.
But we just talked about our lives.
He bent a penny with his non-dominant hand and gave it to me.
I knew I had made a new best friend.
And as I felt myself start to drown in my sorrows, he walked beside me to let me know I was stronger than I thought.
I can’t remember the way I felt then.
I only know how I feel now.
I felt at peace that I have found the same man I had hoped as a little girl I would find.
Just when I was about to give up completely on it – he appeared.
True love exists.
Don’t give up.
All the things you are? Be them. He will love them.
All the drive you have? Drive it. He will support you.
All the commitment you deserve? Take it. He will offer it.
And if you are like me and were settling for less, let them break your heart so you can move on.
You will survive it. And if you’re diligent and trust yourself, you will find each other.
I’m living proof.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
