I’m not searching for my ‘other half.’
I’m not searching for the man who will complete me, fulfilling all my deepest desires and making me feel whole.
I’m searching for a man who lingers in my mind, a man who haunts me but does not consume my every thought, stifling my sense of autonomy.
I’m searching for a man who loves deeply from a distance, a man who loves hard but craves independence, a man with whom I can survive either together or alone.
I’m searching for a man unafraid to reveal imperfection, a man whose flaws match my own, bonding us tighter and strengthening our love.
I’m searching for a man who loves me, truly, purely, and deeply but who does not need me, a man who understands and accepts that I love him wholeheartedly but also that I do not rely on him for happiness in life.
I’m searching for a man who understands that love is a balance. A man who has passions besides our love. A man whose love for me is powerful but whose love extends far enough to pursue his wildest dreams with his whole heart. A man who knows that my love is deep but reaches far beyond him to my passions and dreams.
I’m searching for a man who views me as his equal, an accomplished man unthreatened by my accomplishments, a successful man undaunted by my successes. A man who supports my unquellable sense of ambition, just as I support his. A man who never attempts to sway me to compromise my sense of drive just to boost his ego.
I’m searching for a man who will complement my strengths but not compensate for my weaknesses. A man who is unafraid to admit he feels weak, just as I do. A man with whom I can grow as we each smooth the cracks in our own hearts, relying on each other for support along the journey, but not for complete fulfillment.
I’m searching for a man with a whole, but blemished heart, just like mine. Our souls similarly, beautifully imperfect, but not intertwined. Our hearts pulsing separately but skipping the same beat as we walk hand-in-hand.
I’m not searching for my “other half” because I have discovered that I am whole, even in my brokenness. I’m not searching for my “other half” because I have recognized the beauty of self-reliance. I’m not searching for my “other half” because I know I never need a man to complete me.
Previously published on Thought Catalog.
Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash
