Always the Bridesmaid? 5 Must-Do’s for Your Own “I Do”
By Josie Brown
What do you hate most about being a bridesmaid (besides ponying up for a dress you’ll never wear again)?
Let me guess: The dread that you’ll never be the one saying “I do.”
The movie 27 Dresses, which starred Katherine Heigl, is the story of many women’s lives:
They are so totally there for their gal pals who are walking down the aisle—yet, at the same time, they are just a wee bit pea green with envy at the bride’s grand luck to have found her Mr. Right.
“Why her, and not me?” they think. “Aren’t I just as pretty, just as smart, just as sexy as?”
The answer is probably a big YES–to all of the above.
But your own “happily ever after” takes more than a warm body in a tux.
So, what exactly are the steps you need to take for a marriage filled with love, commitment, and yes, happiness?
These 5 very important must-do’s:
1. DO open your mind toward men who you may not necessarily consider your type. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’e going to keep getting what you’re getting. The guys that you least expect may be the ones that have the qualities you appreciate most.
2. DO reconsider and reconnect. Maybe you lost touch with a great guy friend. Or maybe you’ve always regretted keeping mum when you could have opened your mouth (and your heart) but were too shy. It’s never too late to pick up the phone and reach out. (Just don’t drunk dial; the next morning, you’ll want to remember what you said…)
3. DO smile–a lot. Just like in committed relationships, in dating, attitude is everything. If you’re shy, or pensive, or unsure of yourself, IT SHOWS. So, relax! You’ve got inner grace. It’s time to let it come out.
4. DO be bold. You don’t need more regrets in your life, so don’t hold back. If you want to say “hi”to a stranger, go for it. Otherwise, you’re just like that Sinatra song you hear played at every wedding, Strangers in the Night: just two ships passing through the night. Instead, jump overboard. He’ll be there to catch you.
5. DO get out there. That old saying– “times up to bat”–is just as relative in love as it is in baseball. If you stay at home, never travel, or only have a few tried-and-true hangouts, you will never experience life to its fullest: which includes people you’ve never met.
Including your future spouse.
Now, get out there and find him.
At the next wedding, forget about catching the bouquet. Instead, try to catch his eye.
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Josie Brown, SingleMindedWomen.com’s Relationships Channel Editor, is the author of two novels: IMPOSSIBLY TONGUE-TIED, and TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES. Her next book, written with her husband, Martin, is the perfect self-help manual for your BFF (…okay, and for you, too). It’s THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO FINDING MR. RIGHT [September 2009]. Look for her third novel The DILF, in bookstores in Summer 2010.
OTHER SMW RELATIONSHIPS ARTICLES
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Finding Mr. Right: His Bromance vs. Your Romance
When You Rebound for All The Wrong Reasons
Finding Mr. Right: Are You Ready for Commitment?
Should You Rebound to Your Ex? When the Answer is Yes–and When It’s No
Are you Dating a Relationship Terminator?
Is Your Relationship Stressed Out? 5 Tips on Chilling Out–with Him
Finding Mr. Right: Will “Pink Viagra” Give Us Ladies a Lusty Libido?
THE BACHELOR’s Prince Charming Falls Off His Horse
Finding Mr. Right: When Rebounding Is All Wrong
