Once upon a time, I was talking to a friend about a dating conundrum. The exact details have grown fuzzy, pushed out by time and the need to remember more important details (like not forgetting my mask in the car).
I know myself, so I know I asked way too many questions:
They probably all came out in a jumble: How do I know HE is THE ONE? How do I know that we will MAKE it? How can I tell that I am making the RIGHT choice? What should I LOOK for in his character?
I think we all have these questions. It’s natural to want a guarantee when we start to date someone.When we are young we just want the time and the butterflies and the fantasy, but as we mature and start to look into the future we would like to form, we want to make sure that we are not investing our time and energy into a “Tin (Wo)Man” who has no heart (cue memories of The Wizard of Oz).
I was expecting a huge discourse on compatibility, christianity, life goals, even lifestyle habits or income.
Instead he looked at me and goes, “Does he make you laugh?” I don’t remember my answer, but I remember his face and smile. He looked at me and said, “If he doesn’t make you laugh, then he’s not the one.” He smiled, then got up and walked away. To him, a friend who had been happily married for over 30 years, that was all the advice he had to give.
Moral of the story:
The next time you have a date with someone that you see actual potential for a future with, don’t forget to ask yourself if they make you laugh.
