All the Single Ladies

So I know it's been months since I've written but the recap of events since my last blog post will have to wait. I have something else on my mind today. The shortage of good men not afflicted by the Peter Pan syndrome it would appear, is a topic of concern not limited to our LDS circles. No, no. We are not the only ones less than impressed by the masses of gaming, minimum wage earning, unmotivated, complacent, thrill seeking, responsibility shirking young men out there shacking up in their parents basements and leeching off the hard work of others. As you can imagine this reality is less than attractive. Not that money is so important or that a lack of it, as a male, negates all chances of being deemed desirable to the opposite sex. I'm not man bashing here, but if you are incapable of articulating a desire to be independent and goals that surpass picking up a hot girl this Friday night, you aren't going to score many, if any, points in my book. That being said, I would like to draw your attention to another interesting phenomena in society. As undesirable as being linked to a man whose characteristics mirror the ones mentioned above, there is another even more fearful scenario for women; having no man at all. The dreaded possibility of being ALONE! And so all intelligent females, weigh their options, dead beat boyfriend, or Ben and Jerry. I would submit that women have done such since the dawn of time. As time has moved forward Ben and Jerry, have repeatedly lost out to Nathan Not-so-Bad or Mr. Mistake, as that fear of being alone has led to a decline in the standards of what we want, and in my opinion deserve in a companion. We settle for someone who isn't motivated but at least doesn't room with his parents; someone who doesn't love us, but is willing to put up with us; someone who remembers our feelings and will listen to us occasionally, but who doesn't share our hopes and dreams. They don't make us giddy and happy, but at least they don't make you cry right? Sadly many of us, too many of us, the single ladies, believe that we will have to settle or else we'll end up alone . To this I say "NO YOU DON'T!" Now before you stop reading and call me naive, delusional, or romantic, which I may well be, hear me out. I don't claim to be an expert at love or relationships and certainly not marriage. I've never been married, and I seem to be perpetually single, but I have been in love. Not that -'I guess you'll do' kind or the high school 'my hormones are out of control' kind either. I'm talking about the real deal. And that is why I believe, no I KNOW, that despite our sometimes dismal prospects we, women, have the right, responsibility, and even duty to hold out for someone who is both fiscally and emotionally weened from mom and dad, and the games, and who makes us feel more alive in their presence in five minutes than we ever felt in all the years prior to meeting them. (*Only one of the marks of true love. There is much more to look forward too.)Yes ladies, men like this do exist! Most, admittedly, are diamonds in the rough, but until we start believing that we deserve better, they aren't going to rise to the challenge. If there are women out there willing to accept mediocrity, there will be no incentive for any man to shape up. So stop selling yourself (and the rest of us) short by accepting any less than the real deal. Be proud to be a single lady! Stick to your guns. Wait for that right man and when he comes he'll put a ring on it.