“If I could just find ‘the one,’ I would get married, and all my problems would disappear.” Every heard that one? Getting married isn’t two halves making a whole, it’s two whole people building a whole new life together. Be whole. Don’t think of marriage as a solution for your problems. Start here.
1. Know yourself
Take yourself on dates. I know, this sounds l
ame, but give it a try. Get to know yourself. If you don’t know yourself, how can you let someone else get to know you?
2. Dig deeper in what you believe – and keep digging
Have a better understanding of what it is you believe or who it is you believe in. If you aren’t sure what you believe, begin digging.
3. Go on a real date
Guys, ask her out face-to-face or over the phone (after you have asked her for her number). Buy her flowers, pay for the meal, and treat her like the lady she is. After the date walk her to her door and say “goodnight”. Call her the next day to ask her out again, or be honest with her and let her know it isn’t going to workout.
Ladies, let him.
Please.
4. Become an expert at making breakfast food
Why? Because everyone likes breakfast food. Learn to make the perfect cup of coffee, a Denver omelet, and pancakes. Guys, it’s really tough to botch making pancakes.
5. Exercise more
Run a 5K, join the gym (and go!), buy a bike (and ride it!).
6. Learn to say ‘no’
When you say ‘yes’ to everything, you’ll have no time to do what it is that you want. Say ‘no’ and spend some time doing the things you enjoy with the people you enjoy.
7. Explore your creativity
Sign up for open mic night, start a blog, paint, pick up photography, make your own clothes, brew your own beer, do something off of Pinterest if you need ideas.
8. Get involved in your community
Be active in community events, join a local church, get to know your neighbors, and volunteer. You have something to offer. You do! Now, what is it?
9. Adventure
Stop thinking about doing it, and go! Hike through the mountains, sleep on the beach, drive across the county! In this world there is much to see, where are you going to go?
10. Support your friends who did decide to marry young
So you’re not married, that’s okay. It really is okay to be 20-something and still single. At least that’s what I tell myself. Support your friends who are married. Care for their relationships, love them, and buy them a cheap bottle of wine.
11. Give
Give to a high school student going on a mission trip or support a child through Compassion International. Whatever it is, we all have something to give.
12. Quit what is holding you back
What is holding you back? Bad habits, sour friendships, a job? Quitting something doesn’t make you a failure, it opens up doors to start something new.
13. Read the Classics
Remember all those books you read the Spark Notes to in high school? Give them another try.
14. Seek out a mentor
Find someone older and more wise then you. Someone who has dealt with transition, pain, and triumph. Someone you admire, look up to, and are willing to listen to. Buy him or her a cup of coffee and take notes.
15. Become a regular
You’ve seen ‘Friends‘ and ‘How I Met Your Mother‘, right? That could be you.
16. Set goals
Set goals that will challenge you and allow you to grow.
Set them high and chase them down.
17. Have standards for those you date
It isn’t all about looks, income, and interests. Know what you’re looking for, know what you want, and have standards for those you date! Stick to your guns and remain patient. Life is too short to settle on something as valuable as marriage.
18. Get out of debt
It’s one less problem to bring into a relationship!
19. Learn to be without your phone
Leave it at home, keep it in your pocket, shut it off! Do what you need to do so it doesn’t run your life. Also, you’ll do the world a favor by limiting your number of selfies.
20. Write down everything you remember
When you’re 75 and sitting on the front porch you’ll have something wonderful to share with your children and grand-children.
21. Grow your relationships deeper
Quality or quantity, right? You don’t need to have all the friends in the world, just a few close ones. Grow those relationships deep, nurture them, take care of them.
22. Be present
Enjoy where you are! You may not be single forever, so enjoy it while you can. Take advantage of being single and do all the things you can do!
23. Learn to enjoy the silence
Put your phone down, turn the music down, and sit in silence. Pray, mediate, clear your head, and think. Let your mind put things in perspective, clear a path, and move forward.
24. Forgive yourself and move forward
We’ve all done things we aren’t proud of. Things we wish we would have never done. Forgive yourself of those things and step into tomorrow without the weight of guilt on your shoulders.
Your future spouse will thank you.
What else would you add to this list?…
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