It's not that I'm too picky. It's not that I'm too independent. It's not that I'm anti-love or anti-romance. It's not that my standards are too high. It's not that I have "back off" stamped across my forehead. It's not that I have trust issues or expect all guys to be jerks and liars. It's not that I'm afraid of commitment. It's not that I'm unloveable. It's not that I'm too busy. It's not even that I like being single right now.

It's that I'm patient.

I haven't met a guy yet who's really worth taking a significant amount of my time away from my friends and family - the people in my life who have been around and will continue to be around. I know what I want out of a real relationship, and I have yet to find someone who I think I could have that with.

So I stick to talking, flirting, and just hanging out and having fun. I keep my family and friends at #1 and keep my wits about me.

I don't worry about being alone forever. I don't think I will be. It's not something I need to worry about right now, so I don't.

I'm patient. It may be the only thing in my life that I'm patient about, but I think love is one thing really worth being patient for.

So people can feel sorry for me if they want. They can worry about me or shrug me off as an ultra-independent feminist. They can keep telling me that I need to meet a "nice boy" right now and get married and all that jazz. They can keep up the annoying "any boyfriend?" questions. They can think whatever they want. In the end, I know I'll be the happy one.