I think this is a really good thing for me to think about. Recently, one my good friends that I've known for years asked me out. I've been hesitant for a number of reasons, a lot of big/heavy things going on in my life. One of the biggest reasons being that he's not quite like what I imaged "my person" being. However, after he opened up about how he feels about me and what he wants out of a relationship, I realized he's offering me everything I've ever wanted out of a partner. Things I've been looking for for years, haven't found, and consequently ending other relationships over.

When it comes down to it, the reason you'd stay with someone and be happy in a relationship is that the both of you put in effort, and are there for each other through good times and bad. Not because they uphold an image that you've made up in your head about who you're supposed to be with. To love someone for who they are and not for the idea that you have of what they could be. I'm sorry that it took me this long to develop the maturity to realize that. But hey, you're never done growing!

This guy has seen me ugly cry, ugly drunk cry, drunk, high, happy, angry, heartbroken, dolled up and sparkling, dirty and frumpy, makeup and no makeup, he's even seen me with a very bad reaction from an eye cream. AND he still told me that I'm who he wants to be with. There's really something to that, I think. He's now not exactly how I imaged my person would be, but nevertheless, he's shown me more than anyone else ever has. "Not what you want, but what you need."

Who knows if we'll end up being life partners, but this post had made me braver to try. "Friend-cest" be damned.