Perfection

As I was looking for something in the container where I keep all of my creative writing, I came across something rather interesting. I happened to stumble upon my "List". When I was sixteen, some friends and I sat down and created our "Perfect Man". We each put together a list of all of the qualities (physical attributes included) that the man we were going to marry would possess. Because at sixteen, we were all going to marry the man of our dreams. I read over my "List" several times then sat for a moment or two just staring at the words that I had so desperately hoped would one day be embodied in my version of perfection. Who is this perfect man you ask? Let me describe him to you (in no particular order)...

Educated (College Degree)
Smart (which in fact is different than educated)
6'0" or taller
Blonde Hair
Blue Eyes
Older than me (I have this hang up with wanting to feel like I'm in a relationship with a man and not raising a little boy)
Medium build/Fit but not too fit
WittyPlayful (but knows when to be serious)
Can out talk me (a man that is smarter than me and eloquent enough to talk me in circles is the most attractive man I could ever meet)
Challenges me both mentally and physically
Sacrcastic (but not mean)
CharmingGood sense of humor (can make me laugh when I want to cry)
Southern/ "Country Boy"
Can cook/will cook with me
Drives a truck
Likes to go out but also enjoys staying in with a movie
Likes Country music
Likes to dance/will take me dancing
Will dance with me in the rain
Sings
Likes History (Would go with me to a museum just as quick as he would go to a football game.)
Likes the outdoors (camping, hiking, rock climbing, and sports of course)
Cultured (enjoys art, music, and theater)
Romantic (but not overly sappy)
Military (Preferrably Air Force) Integrity is sexy!
Motivated
Ambitious
Successful
Passionate (about life, things that are important to him, his convictions)
Speaks a foreign language
Hard worker
Likes Sushi, Indian, and Thai food
Banters with me (Bu doesn't constantly correct me/need to be right)
Spontanious (but also reliable)
Honest (I can't stand being lied to)
Strong but gentle
Affectionate
Kind
Wants kids/Will make a good father
Adventurous
Likes to travel
Kinda nerdy but has the "cool factor" (referring to his style and the way he presents himself in public. Yes, I like a certain dress style on a guy)
Honors his Priesthood.
Doesn't Drink
My Best Friend
Adores me as much as I adore him

As you can see from my "List", at sixteen I knew exactly what I wanted...a man that I was told didn't exist. I was told that it would be impossible to find a single person that possessed every quality on my list, and so far that has been the case...but as impossible as I was told finding this man would be, I have come within 98% with the potential for the other 2% and though there were moments that came close, it was less than perfect.

A list of qualities doesn't make someone good for you. As time has gone by and I have moved on from the person I thought was "everything I ever wanted", I have come to realize that he was so far from what I was looking for that it amazes me that I couldn't see it. I was too focused on my list of "perfection".

Maybe we're not supposed to seek perfection. Maybe we're just supposed to try to find someone that we can be happy with regardless of the color of their eyes, their taste in music, the job they have, the vehicle they drive, or where they were raised. And maybe, when we've done away with our blueprint for "everything we have ever wanted" we will actually find our version of perfection...