A while ago, a co-worker asked me: "what do you think of love?"

I responded: "love is unconditional; it is the same for anybody, no matter who they are."

him: "no, not like that. Love between a man and a woman."

me: grimacing.

him: "pretend I am your boyfriend, and you are my girlfriend."

me: "okaaaayy..."

him: "your job is to make me happy, and my job is to make you happy."

me: "first off, you are assigning jobs to something that does not need jobs. Second, it is nobody's job to make me happy, but my own. And lastly, if you are not happy, there is nothing I can do to make you happy."

him: "no, no, I think I am no saying it right. You know when you have a pet; you give it water, take care of it, and give it food, right?"

me: "I am not dependent upon you, I am not your 'pet!'"

him: "no, when you love someone, you give yourself to them."

me: "I am not giving myself to anybody. I did that before, and put his needs before my own needs, and I suffered for that. I will not do that again. The man I am going to be with will know this, and not expect me to."

him: "how?"

me: "he will know and respect my path that I am traveling on, as he has his own. If our two paths come together and will work together, and if we have a connection, we can have a relationship out of love and respect, not jobs."

him: "so, you want someone who has the same interests like you? I know a couple who have different beliefs, and they are married."

me: "yes, I heard of that before, and if it works for them, great. But, for me, I want someone who has the same interests."

him: "what about, if he moved to New York, would you go with him?"

me: "it depends; what is in it for me?" What is going on in my life at the time, what would I do in NY? Would I be moving because he wanted me to? No. I would move if it was a good thing for me."

Then he changed the subject, and it was clear he did not understand my beliefs, and in return, I understood his way too much. I have been there, done that. It is what I was taught growing up. His background and dedication to his church has taught him these ideas. Which is why I am not a fan of organized religion. I do not want a man who lets his church dictate how he feels, what he should do, and what to belief. I do want a man who believes in God, but can think, feel, and know for himself. Until the time comes, I am doing my thing, and when it does come, I will keep on doing my thing.