My mom used to say that relationships wouldn’t come easy for me. She said it matter-of-factly, not to be cruel, but as if it were just an unavoidable truth. “You expect too much from people,” she’d say with a sigh. “And you’re too independent. Men want to feel needed.” I always shrugged it off, convinced that love didn’t require me to change who I was.

But as the years have passed, her words have stuck with me. I’ve watched friends enter relationships that seemed effortless, while I’ve struggled to find someone who truly fits. I’ve been told that my standards are too high, that I should be more flexible, that no one is perfect. But is it wrong to want someone who meets me at my level? I don’t expect perfection—I just want something real, something that adds to my life rather than complicating it.

I’m not willing to play small to make someone else feel bigger. I don’t want a relationship built on obligation or convenience—I want one built on mutual respect, passion, and understanding.

So, I really hope love proves my mom wrong. I hope there’s someone out there who won’t see my independence as a challenge but as something to admire. And until that person comes along, I’d rather be alone than settle for something that doesn’t feel right. Because at the end of the day, I believe love should be just as strong as I am.