Another year older...

Well, I recently celebrated my birthday.  And honestly, it wasn't too great.  The thought of being ANOTHER year older, and nowhere near marriage/kids, is kind of depressing. 

I would love to cowgirl up and get a positive attitude and say "THIS is my year!  THIS is the year it's all going to happen for me!"  But, ya see, I've done that.  Numerous times.  Like, a lot.  So...

It's very difficult to keep a positive attitude when you don't see any change or positive result.  I can honestly say that I had a very positive "can do" attitude in 2012 and for parts of 2013.  I was easy breezy about going out with friends to the bar (which I'm not normally a fan of) and pretty much went on any social invitation that came my way (date or not).  And I wasn't TRYING to meet someone.  I was merely open to being social and whatever that may or may not bring.

You know what it brought?  Nothing.  Not one chance encounter with someone while I was out.  Not one date that came out of someone knowing someone that might be good for me.  Not one exciting date opportunity.  Nothing. 

Now, I'm not saying that gives me permission to be negative 24/7...but one could see why it would be hard to stay positive and hopeful. 

And the other difficult thing, is that everyone else's lives are seemingly moving forward.  Whether it's celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, another pregnancy, building and moving into a brand new home, going on a couples' trip... 

NONE of those things are going on in my life.  Now, my life isn't completely boring.  I obviously went on some amazing trips last year.  But, I do believe those trips would have been more fun if I'd had a mate with me.  I feel like it's somewhat boring:  living in the same house, same job(s), same hobbies...  I never feel like I have something cool to report.  And I know that my married friends may not look at their stuff the same way I do, but that doesn't change how it feels to be the odd one out.

Even the friends in my life who CHEATED WHILE MARRIED are dating people.  I mean, are you kidding me?  Seriously?  I don't get that at all. 

So, I'm going to do my best to try and get a little positivity going.  I can't make any guarantees, but I will try. 

Here's to 2014 being my year???

People READ this blog? Woot!

Well, this is pretty cool. 

Ya know, you write these blog entries and you sometimes wonder if anyone actually reads them or follows it at all.  Now, lucky for me, I've "met" many of you through your supportive and helpful comments to my posts.  So, I always knew there were a few of you reading. 

But yesterday, I found out that DatingAdvice.com has named me as one of the year's "10 Best Dating Guide Blogs."  Cool! 

The rankings were published yesterday and they'll be promoting it on-site and through other social media.  If you want to see my write-up and the other blogs in the top 10, check out this link:  http://www.datingadvice.com/for-men/10-best-dating-guide-blogs.

Not a bad way to start the new year.  I guess I better step up my game and make sure I'm posting often. 

I will say, I don't know how good my dating advice is on this site, but I do my best to represent the trials and tribulations of a girl living the single life, navigating all the crap we have to go through to find our "prince." 

Thanks to all of YOU for reading and being supportive!  And thanks to DatingAdvice.com, too!   

The grass is always greener...

It's so easy for me to get caught up in all the things I think are going wrong in my life. And then I start looking at everyone around me, who seemingly have the things I don't, and assume life is a bowl of cherries for them.

I had a little "aha" moment last weekend. I was talking with a friend (she & her hubby have a pretty good life going, and it would be easy to assume all is fab). Anyway, we were talking about her husband and she was saying he wasn't thrilled with his job or where he was at in life (happy with her, but not his career & social life). Anyway, I look at him and think, "You're making great money, you have a solid job, you love your wife...life is grand." But HE'S in the situation and still not fully happy.

While I wasn't happy to hear that he's feeling that way, I will say it gave me some much needed perspective. Just because I'm not married and don't have children (two things I really want) doesn't mean there aren't some pretty good things happening in my life.

We all have areas of our lives that aren't going the way we hoped or planned. It doesn't matter who has what, everyone's got their thing that bums them out. It's not like I didn't know this...but this was a good reminder.

Now, don't worry, I haven't turned into Sally Sunshine. But, I'm doing my best to enter 2012 with positivity and a better outlook. Last year was a such a mess, and this year can only get better!

New Year, New Hope?

I'm behind on posts...and actually feel like I've got about 4-5 posts I could do, if I had time! Anyway, I'll get to those soon.

Today's post is all about positivity. I just celebrated a birthday last weekend. And, while last year's birthday (being so close to my dad's passing) was pretty much sucky, this year was fab. I wasn't really dreading it, even though I do get a bit down when a year passes with no change in my single status...

I slept in, awoke to wonderful posts on my FB page, and a text from family telling me to enjoy my massage appointment they'd made for me at a local spa. Very nice. Not to mention the countless lunches/dinners/cards & gifts throughout the days surrounding my bday.

I went out the night of my birthday and again the next night - had a blast both times! Anyway, it was a few days filled with fun, laughing, and good friends.

So far, 2012 is off to a great start! I'm making some positive financial changes, angling to make changes in my job, and training for another marathon (even ran a 20 miler over the weekend).

Now, I know I need to figure something out as far as dating goes, but I haven't got any bright ideas on that yet. I am sick of blind dates, don't particularly like online, and most everyone I know is married. So...I'm letting that marinate for now.

I feel very blessed to have the best friends on the planet and to have had a wonderful bday. It gives me hope that this could be a really great year.