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Criteria, standards and preferences..we all have them. Some prefer white collar workers, some require for brothers/sisters to have graduate degrees while others must be a certain height or certain skin tone. Some require a preferred hair style or they must make a certain income. Some prefer a certain style of fashion, bald head or locks, afros or wavy hair. I could go on and on about the various preferences we all have when seeking a mate. I do believe first and foremost we must be attractive to the people we date. When people say looks aren't everything I beg to differ based on how some brothers and sisters view each other. It's a good thing we all have different tastes. It's a good thing I'm one of the few brothers that prefer a sister with locks and naturals versus long or permed hair like some brothers. Does that mean I'm too caught up? Am I limiting myself and missing out on some great sisters with perms? I do believe so and that's just one of many examples of why we're so caught up and limiting ourselves to a set criteria. I also believe we like what we like but why is it so hard for us to be more flexible, to be less superficial and why are all these preferences non-negotiable for most of us? Are these preferences more for our own well being or are we more worried abour impressing other people? There are so many personal standards with so many preferences. Are we are using these factors too much as a blueprint when seeking the one? Are they preventing us from looking deeper than what a person may bring to the table? Are we quick to write off that darker skin sister over a light skin sister (or vice versa) even though she's the one who makes you smile, compliments you daily and she'll be the one that will be brutally honest with you unconditionally? What about that brother or sister who's the one that can tap and nurture you emotionally and genuinely cares for you. Don't some brothers/sisters tend to overlook those type because we're stuck in our own preferences? Sisters have you ever met a brother who is a perfect gentleman, cordial and willing to court you the way you deserve to and he's everything you want in a man? But you told your girlfriend that he would be an ideal mate if he was 6'5 or taller but you keep him around only as a FWB because he's serving you (yes I mean intimacy) better than all those taller brothers you would consider on a more serious level? Then you all ask what's love gotta do with it. Other factors may include dating someone with or without kids, divorced, never married or even considering someone older/younger? To really take it there what about that Caucasian man who's constantly putting a smile on that sisters face but she would never consider him as an idea mate because she only prefers brothers but she finds herself curious at times? But of course we're too caught up with what our friends and family will say right? What ever happened to finding and loving that someone that loves you? What about that UPS or Fed Ex deliver man who's always meeting you with a warm greeting and he makes you smile and constantly gets you all warm and um..let's say fuzzy inside daily but you could never date a man who wears a uniform to work everyday? Fellas what about that fine sister who has that amazing personality, gorgeous smile, pays her bills, owns a home, fit body, polished look and she's career oriented but you can't get pass the point when she says... "hello, welcome to McDonalds?" Are we too caught up with what our friends may say or how you would present her at the next corporate event? Are we too caught up that we think a persons profession or title defines who they are as a person and how they can make you feel inside? Are we too caught up with our own certain preferences that we forget when seeking a mate, a significant other....the one.. we forget that it's all about how that person may compliment your lifestyle? The one that makes you smile, the one that you think about on the regular, the one who will support through thick and thin, the one that accepts you and all your quirks ..the one you prefer to spend all your time with? Are we too caught up that we're more worried about what our homegirls or homeboys may think so we quickly throw them into the friend zone or into this glass jar for emergency purposes only? Are we too caught up trying to have someone presented as our trophy versus someone that has exhibited unconditional love for you whether if you two are a couple or not? Are we too caught up to the point when we ask someone about the current person they may be dating at the time andthey can spit off their resume verbatim but when asked how he/she makes them feel inside they give you a blank, complexed look? When dating we need to consider what's really important to us, how that person makes us feel and how they compliment us. Flagler be honest..what's your opinion: Are we too caught up? Have our shallow views and perceptions cost us from meeting and dating really good people? Are we standing in our own way? |




Some of us are....
Have our shallow views and perceptions cost us from meeting and dating really good people?
I believe in some cases it has. The challenge though is being open enough to accept the things that (are not REAL dealbreakers) that don't vibe with the desires we have for our mate. For example: height, in my opinion is not a real dealbreaker...but a preference. If I were to reject a good man because he's 5'9" instead of 6'0", then the loss is most definitely mine.
As you stated...we all have our preferences, and that's okay. Our preferences only become a problem when they are standing in the way of making connections that would result in the type of relationships that we desire. It takes a lot of introspection to determine if in fact that is the case.
Are we standing in our own way?
See comment above...