The Rundown

Joy Maniscalo once said. ~It's funny, when you first start dating someone you go over the checklist that you have in your head, the criteria that you think will embody your "perfect mate." The thing is someone can sound amazing on paper, they can look the part but it doesn't necessarily mean they're supposed to be your leading man.~ Without a doubt, when it comes to a potential and/or significant relationship a person can most definitely define the guy/girl as a simple checklist. A checklist in which the guy/girl will at times unintentionally view the individual in question as what he/she likes, dislikes, favorite hobbies, and/or smalls, etc. For its a sad state of affairs indeed when a relationship is primarily built on a mental list within your mind rather than one coming from your heart.

If you think about it, for those who are currently in the dating scene they have their own personal and possibly professional standards in regards to potentially meeting their best friend for life. A written or unwritten list of what attracts or even repels him/her involving the opposite sex, which are in all intents and purposes known as deal breakers. Women, more so than guys, are notorious for a long laundry list of seemingly high expectations concerning the man of their dreams, which is totally mind blowing. Unfortunately, it's quite difficult to live up to those high expectations listed by a certain number of women who adhere to it as if it's their bible, so to speak. Yet, as a guy you're thankful when a woman is willing to give a guy a chance even though he doesn't necessarily meet her criteria and vice versa.

As I said before, its a sad state of affairs when a relationship is primarily built on a mental list within one's mind rather than an emotional one in their heart. Thinking about it, if you're truly in a loving, worthwhile, long lasting relationship you don't have to constantly stop and think what you're bf/gr/husband/wife likes, dislikes, her favorite song, etc. because you automatically know the answer in your heart. You see, a strong relationship established by the bonds of not only love/true love but utmost respect for him/her doesn't need a list to help remind you what or why he/she makes you happy. What it basically comes down to is keenly paying attention and not just nonchalantly observing to the point where it's listed in your memory backs either. Essentially, if done correctly, it leaves a lasting impression within the memory of his/her heart.

Let me ask you this question to you ladies who are in the dating scene, how many of you see guys merely as a checklist and if he doesn't measure up at all to your standards he's considered to be a waste of your time? True, there are some women out there who are absolutely shallow and stick to a checklist that mainly has the following criteria: Excellent well paying job, physically fit, muscular is a plus, and is very attractive to the eyes. The trifecta if you will. On the other hand, there are women out there who also have a list but focus more on what really matters such as spirituality, faith in God, family, etc. As a guy, who has been keenly observing relationships for the past 12 years, I've been fortunate enough to have female friends share their list with me. Let's just say, some are still single but as for others they are the lucky few who have met and married their so-called man of their dreams.

In retrospect, matters of the heart regarding true happiness aren't listed that you can simply cross off or put a check mark by ladies and gentlemen. The list of qualities we all seek in a wife/husband like honesty, patience, trust, faith, Godly, commitment, communication, understanding, respect, etc. all have substance. They're not just words written down on a piece of paper to list down off the top of your head. Far from it. For a guy like myself who is living the single life, the qualities I'm looking for in a wife hold not only value but meaning as well, which is what you should strive for too. In the end, to my fellow single peeps out there don't let who you're wanting to be spend the rest of your life with be a checklist where you'll continually be mentally giving the rundown of what's wrong or right about this person; instead, I say throw away the list and go with the flow.