“Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with.” -Carrie Bradshaw… Season 2, episode 18-

I don’t usually share the details about my personal life let alone my love life…because simply put everyone doesn’t deserve to know. However, in an attempt to wrap up my 2016 lessons I have to paint a tiny picture that just happens to include my love life (if I can even call it that)… so just enjoy the snippet I provide :).

As I told you earlier this month, I’m enjoying a blast through the past as I binge watch Sex and the City in order. I’d like you all to know I have finally reached the year 2000! Of course my favorite character is Carrie Bradshaw, but that’s probably because she’s a writer, a hopeless romantic, and a girl who knows what she wants and chases after her goals. I’m convinced she’s my spirit animal.

2016 has been my year of dating… well at least that’s what my linesister Kala seems to believe. I have enjoyed movie and dinner dates, homemade dinners, beach dates, wine tastings, pizza and junk on a rainy day, racing go karts…I’ve returned some calls while I declined others,  added a few people to my block list. What can I say—I know what I like and what I don’t like…and sometimes I just want to get out the house and have good conversation. 2016 has been my year of being open-minded when it comes to dating! Now did anything spectacular come from exploring? Not really… but, I did learn that just because I go on a few dates with a guy, doesn’t mean I owe him a bit of loyalty nor does he deserve my heart. I like to describe myself as a single girl that has enjoyed dating.

To know me is to know I am naturally a nurturer and loyalty is important to me. To give you another view–my bestfriend Toya loves to tell people I’m the nicest person she knows…even on my bad days. However, no matter how nice you are…or how loyal you choose to be… there’s the common knowledge that along with dating comes the possibility of being hurt if you allow others to control your emotions. Unfortunately, sometimes hurt is inevitable…especially if you naturally believe people are more than what they really are. This year I’ve dated people who had an issue with my work schedule (quick negative)…then there were those who thought my job was extremely exciting and that’s all they wanted to talk about (another negative) I don’t want to only talk about news…and then there were those who appreciated the fact that I was goal oriented, but just weren’t a match for me! It’s almost like you never know what you’re going to get. Either way, I’ve learned that when I was dealing with someone I thought was my match and they walked away…that’s it always best to let them GOOOO… they honestly didn’t deserve me after all. Which isn’t really hard for me, because once I write you off– there’s not much left for us to discuss.

“Don’t chase anything, but drinks and dreams”

-the new quote that hangs in my house sums up my 2016 PERFECTLY!

Moral of the story: Take your time, live a little and remember that everyone you date doesn’t deserve the privlege of being your knight in shining armor.

• Be confident in who you are..
• Love yourself.
• Always be good to others even when they treat you otherwise…Let karma handle the rest.
• Don’t settle for potential alone.

You honestly have to think of yourself as a prize and everyone can’t win the trophy.Lesson #7 is simple: Guard your heart girl…everyone doesn’t deserve it.

“The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that’s just fabulous.” -Carrie Bradshaw