I have been working on myself for some time now. I have been through quite a number of ordeals in life generally speaking.

My last relationship with someone was the one that made me take the proverbial 10 steps back and just take the backseat in dating. There was a great deal of deception on his part and things that I found which I could not morally accept.
The first thing I did after I broke it off (which happened over the course of 2 entire years) was beat myself up. I thought that I was not worth anyone’s time, not attractive, not honorable enough (was not a high point in my life)… the list went on and on.

After those two years, I decided to pick myself off of the ground and try again. Things did not really go so well. I kept running into the same kind of guy over and over. It made me just want to give up trying. So, I did.

I cannot really say that it was the worst thing I could have ever done. I actively made a choice to stay single for quite a while. It helped me learn more about myself and what I find attractive in another. I highly value someone who has a beautiful heart, and shows true compassion and empathy for others. I am coming to terms with the fact that I do care about if that person is male or female. And I am not looking for the modern day Clark Kent or Audrey Hepburn, either. I care more about who that person is and what that person aspires to be.

In my twenties, I can say that I lacked the maturity to understand and set aside ignorance. So, in some way…despite the bad relationships that I have gone through…I respect my experience as I would a teacher.

I am not exactly dating anyone at this point, but am open to the possibility of it. Just taking small steps rather than huge leaps. But this time, without shallow prejudice.