Don't Settle

Those were her only sage words. It was a conversation I had this past Saturday night. I was out with a couple of friends who are just shy of being 20 years older than I. Friends that were the result of a heart breaking event in my life....the spoils of a relationship gone bad. Her comment started with "if I knew at your age what I know now..." . Of course I had to ask what she knows. She plainly said "Don't settle." I haven't. She recognizes that. And at the same time I feel like I am missing out on so much. What if I had said yes to that 2nd marriage proposal years ago to the man who has yet to be faithful to anything? Would we have children? Would I know what it is like to come home to someone on a regular basis? Would I have someone who was on my side...the majority of the time? Someone who would laugh at my antics? Someone who hates my cooking? Would I be divorced? Or would I have looked the other way because of love? Don't settle. Don't settle in love? In life? In a career? I can't settle. It is not my nature. I still hope for more.