Quote:
Originally Posted by Inspired
Two words: Priorities, and Standards.Quote:
Originally Posted by nicespringgirl
First, Priorities: There are 24 hours in everybody's day and if you fill them up with work and work-related thoughts and activities, there won't be much left for socialization, dating and such. That's fine and dandy if those priorities actually reflect your true values, namely, that work and professional achievement is more important to you than romance, love, and family. But if those are your priorities and you act on them, then don't complain about how it's not fair that "good" men aren't interested in you. They're plenty interested, but you're too busy with other things--simple as that, and nobody's choice but yours. It takes time, effort and attention to get to know someone well enough to be able to tell whether you have a future together. If you aren't willing to devote that level of resources to the task, don't be surprised that it doesn't get done. Again, nobody's choice but yours, so don't complain about the men.
Second, Standards:See, it really isn't about what the men want or don't want, it's about what YOU want and don't want. You are setting an impossibly high standard that even the "perfect man" is bound to fail to satisfy. If you don't already want to marry him, you can't "waste" the time it takes to get to know him, and of course, you can't seriously want to marry someone you don't know. Really now, think about it. It puts an impossibly high premium on your first impressions. I don't doubt that you're smart, but you're not so smart that you can always tell "real quick without dating him" that he's not mature or responsible enough. People, even men, are more complicated than that, and if you want to get beneath the surface to know the real person inside, it's going to take some time and effort on your part. If you're so serious and driven that you "can't date for fun", because it would "waste other's time" (and presumably yours as well), then you will never get close enough to anybody to be able to tell whether you could love them.Quote:
Originally Posted by nicespringgirl
I never understood arranged marriages, but in your case, springgirl, it might be just the thing. You combine an impossibly high standard with a relatively low priority, so left to your own devices, it may never get done. The effective executive learns to delegate low-priority tasks.
Or you could just decide to be a successful single woman who doesn't fall in love, get married or have a family. Nothing wrong with that, but if that's what you choose to do, take ownership of it and recognize that it's YOUR choice and has nothing to do with what men want or don't want. It's what YOU want, and what you get by virtue of your own choices.
Priorities, standards and choices. All yours.
"It furthers one to cross the great water. No blame."
--The I Ching