There's one trait that I continuously find myself coming back to when it comes to dating: inspiration.
I don't really care how you spend your time. I mean I hope you have hobbies, and it'd be cool if we have some in common, but as long as you spend your time doing things you enjoy, that's cool with me. I don't really care about your education. Do I hope you have one? Absolutely, that's important to me. But I understand that it isn't for everyone. Do I care about your job? Nah. But please, please, have a job that you enjoy doing. That's all.
I really should reiterate. Because I DO care. I care about each and every aspect of you, even the ones I don't always want to care about or the aspects you wish I wouldn't care about. I care to know you - and knowing you involves all of those finite details previously mentioned. What I'm saying is that you'll deviate from what I always envisioned. You won't have every characteristic I always thought that I wanted in a man. And that's okay. But there's one thing I need from you - one thing I really, truly value: I need you to inspire me.
Inspiration in its simplest form, really. I want you to inspire me to be a better person. To push myself - in my career, in my education, in my beliefs, culture, and values. I want you to inspire me to try things I always said I wouldn't. To read books I never thought I'd like, to go to a place I never wanted to visit, to eat a food I always swore off. I want you to inspire me to be better. Every day. Because although self-motivation is important, sometimes our steam just runs out. Sometimes we need a person running alongside us, telling us we can keep going, that we can cross that finish line.
And I want to inspire you, too. I want to be able to push you. To stretch your limits and make you step outside of your comfort zone. Because inspiration is like a weed when you have the right amount. It grows wildly and quickly, and spreads throughout the surface. When it works, when it really works, we feed off of each other. We make each other better. We consistently try new things and pursue higher heights. That's...well, that's inspirational.
And that's what I hope for. Maybe it's a bit far-reaching but maybe it really isn't at all.
Is that not the epitome of every healthy relationship? It's a loose term: inspiration (and it's largely open to interpretation). But think about it. Think of some important traits when you envision the perfect relationship: couples who love each other, who try new things together, who make time for each other, who put each other first, who listen to each other, who push each other. And now think about inspiration. What does inspiration make you do? Does it make you care? Love? Push harder and further? Depending on the situation, it certainly does.
Inspiration makes us better. Inspiration makes us want to do something. It moves our emotions, our intellect, our behavior. And is that not what every relationship needs? We need to be influenced to feel happiness and love, influenced to deeply care for someone other than ourselves, influenced to better ourselves while we better those around us. Quite frankly, that sounds pretty healthy to me.
So that's all I want. And it encompasses so very, very, much, that one little word. Inspiration. 11 letters, 4 syllables, and a different meaning for every person walking this earth. But there's someone out there - maybe you've already found them or maybe you're still looking - but there's someone walking around with a bottle of inspiration ready to swirl and mix with your own. To create that perfect recipe that leaves us with a sweet taste in our mouth and a warm feeling in our heart.
Fill your jar. Screw that lid on tight. And unleash that beauty when you're good and ready.
Be inspired. Inspire others. Our world could use a bit more of that.
