When your mind is at ease, anything can happen. And when something magical happens in that moment, say “yes.”
My sophomore year of college, I was invited to a birthday party. It was for a friend of a friend that I hadn’t ever met before. I contemplated not going, but decided it might be fun. I was single, after dating a guy for much of the past year, and was perfectly fine with hanging out with friends. I definitely wasn’t looking for “Mr. Right.” I was then introduced, or maybe it was pushed into meeting, this guy sitting at the end of the table.
“You need to go and talk to him” my friend said.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I think you will like him” my friend responded.
Oh boy. Great. Someone for me to “like.” Just what I needed.
Needless to say, that first conversation didn’t go so well. He didn’t appear to be interested in me, and I wasn’t either. We both left at the end of the evening with barely a good bye, and probably expected never to see each other again. We were wrong. The very next week we were both invited to another birthday gathering, and were seated next to each other. It was another non-eventful evening. As I was leaving later that evening, my friend who invited me said that this guy wanted my phone number. What?!?! Why would he want my phone number? I didn’t get the impression that either of us wanted to talk more.
To fast forward a bit, this guy that I was pushed into meeting, is now my husband. What started as a uneventful beginning, turned into a beautiful love story. He ended up calling me a week after that second meeting, and we talked for hours.
I love hearing how couples meet, and why they fell in love. Their stores inspire me, and make my own story all the more special. An unexpected meeting many years ago, has grown into something so amazingly profound. When I think of all of the ways this man, this love of my life, has touched my heart and soul, the list could go on for days. When I first met my husband, he wasn’t what I expected. He was so much more.
Dale Flory, you have given me the greatest gift – your love. You give me the confidence to be a better person. You show me the meaning of family. You support me through all of life’s curve balls. You are an amazing Dad. You don’t take life too seriously, and always have a way to make me laugh. You are the one and only person I want to spend the rest of my life with.
I wanted to share this story with all of you to give you the perspective of saying “yes” when you can’t find a reason in the world to say “no.” Saying “yes” to this birthday gathering once upon a time, has given me a very happily ever after.