Age is relative

Last Friday I drove the 2+ hours to Edmonton, got all done up, and went on a date. I was nervous and excited, but I love getting pretty! We had to do a few loops of the city to gather our dates and get to our dinner, but it was so yummy and a fun time. We got to the dance pretty late, and it ended an hour earlier than expected. (If you know of my love for dancing and the 2 months since I last did... you'll understand how tragic that was!!) So we mingled a little, then took our dates home and went to bed.

All in all in was an enjoyable evening. For my first major venture into the Edmonton YSA social scene, I think I did okay, though I'm not sure that there will be many others. Most importantly, I learned something valuable from my date.

From what my friend told me about him, and his pictures, he seemed fun and cute. And in reality he was a nice enough guy. He had the potential to be interesting. However, I was totally uncomfortable with him. It was a struggle to carry on a conversation!!

And it was all in his ATTITUDE!! At 26 years old, he has already given up on singles wards, and casually attends a family unit. He doesn't like to stay up past 10pm cuz it makes him cranky the next day. He said that he didn't bother socializing because it was all meaningless smalltalk, and no one would remember what he said anyway. Several similar negative statements later, I had realized something about myself:

I AM AWESOME!!

I'm really not that old at all! My age may be higher in digits, but I am still positive, vibrant, and alive! I get excited for dates and new experiences. I look forward to the small joys of life. I love learning about people. I thrive on good conversation. I love good music, dancing, and laughing. I love cheesy jokes and teasing. Although I have been to hundreds of YSA activities, I still make an effort to go when I can. I'm open to possibilities, and always up for an adventure! I try not to have expectations, but I like to give people and situations the benefit of the doubt.

Perhaps all my years of trial and error on the LDS YSA scene have given me that perspective - instead of becoming bitter like my date. Well thank heaven!

I am cute and fun and interesting! And someday that will be enough to catch the eye of the kind of man that I want to build eternity with. He won't be intimidated by my travels or life experience. Age will be just a number that doesn't even register with him. We'll be comfortable together, interested in each other's worlds, and inspired to be better with, and for one another.

Yep. He will be awesome. Just like me:)