Advice

Take it slow - Apparently, this is one of the things some people will tell you when you’re in a new relationship. However, the speed of something like this is absolutely irrelevant to me. Most of you know me – I take things as they need to be taken. Period. And if there’s something I really want, I don’t hesitate. I may take my time researching and pondering, but I haven’t reached this point in my life by waiting for the right time. I’ve found that you have to make the time right. Carpe diem, baby! I knew I was ready for a relationship. I actively searched for it. It was just a matter of finding the right person. I don’t mean for it to sound as generic as shopping for the right accessory to go with the dress I just bought (looking for the right companion to go with the life I’m living) but, in reality, it is that simple. Of course, simple doesn’t imply easy.

I had expected my search to take several months. Maybe a year. Maybe more. I had no idea what type of people I’d find out there so I simply kept an open mind, hoped for the best and didn’t get discouraged when it wasn’t the right person. Once I had gone through several people who weren’t quite right, it wasn’t hard to identify the one who was. And, lucky me, he felt the same! So in terms of how fast or slow we move in our relationship, well, let’s put it this way: I’m 45 years old. I know where I am. I know what I want. I know where I want to go. I live by gut instinct which keeps me out of most trouble. And I’m not afraid to get hurt. Seriously. What, exactly, am I supposed to be waiting for? Yes, there needs to be time to get to know one another, determine compatibilities, learn the idiosyncrasies, meet the families and friends. But after that it’s all fair game. I will put myself completely out there and risk whatever it takes to have the relationship I want. I know that if I hold back, I’m not giving myself, the other person, or the relationship the respect that is deserved. There is no successful relationship without that risk. It’s all or nothing. It’s scary as hell. But if it's real, it's worth the risk. Screw it! I’m going for it! Tell someone else to take it slow.