I remember going to weddings and hearing couples’ vows. I would cry at how beautiful it all was, but did not really believe that true love existed. I had been in a long term relationship, but could never imagine spending my whole life with that person so I believed it couldn’t exist for anyone and that maybe everyone on their wedding day was lying to themselves. A little evil right? I used to pray every day for the man I was supposed to be with, at the same time believing soulmates didn’t exist. I would dream about the type of man I wanted to walk into my life. Ambitious, creative, smart, driven…then I would say screw it – why don’t I become the person I’m searching for. 

After breaking it off with a long-term boyfriend and riding a wave of freedom from traveling abroad – I wanted to experience dating. I had a roommate that was always telling me about her crazy tinder stories – so I created a profile. My plan was to keep things casual – just simple dates that weren’t supposed to go anywhere. I ended up only meeting one person off of the app. We texted a little back and forth for a week or so, then finally decided to meet up after I got off work one night. We had an inside joke about capri suns – so I grabbed some and we had our first date on top of a parking garage. We talked until about 2am. After that, we just never stopped hanging out. I knew after a few months that he was it and was ready to spend forever with him then – an idea that used to terrify me. 

“I can’t wait to marry this man and so glad I never settled for less than my soulmate.”

We moved in together after a year of dating. One month into our new place, my mother passed away. This was by far the darkest moment and time in my life, but the way Emerson loved me through that made me fall in love with him even more and trust that he is the one for me.  We’ve been together about 4 years now and recently engaged. Sometimes I look at him and think,  “if I had a checklist and created him myself I don’t think I could have done any better.” We motivate, inspire, and support each other in personal and career growth. I can’t wait to marry this man and so glad I never settled for less than my soulmate. 

To you and my younger self, I would say:

Just focus on yourself. Become the person you want to attract and don’t settle for anything less – of yourself or anyone else. As soon as you focus on you and let go of wanting things to happen on your terms is when the universe responds. Trust that what you desire is on its way and hold yourself accountable for showing up for yourself. 

“Become the person you want to attract and don’t settle for anything less – of yourself or anyone else.”

Meghan, 25 | Winter Park, Florida, US