A Matter of Timing

Something occurred to me the other day that really startled me. It was the instant realization that I was missing a completely vital component to meeting The One (italics added by author). We always think in terms of: I wonder if I'll ever find him/her, but I think we're all forgetting that there is another facet to meeting someone. The concept of timing. Let me give you an example. Meet Sarah. Sarah's a pretty young girl. She's bright, articulate, and she can tie a knot in the stem of a cherry with her tongue...The total package. She loves classical music, writing faithfully in her blog, and working at her job. She's a waitress at a really upscale restaurant where she's working right now. You see, five minutes ago she was just stiffed on a bill which will now be deducted from her days pay. A lamentable happening to be sure. Disheartened by her recent and sudden financial pitfall she fails to notice the man being seated at her section. His name is Steve. Steve is a handsome young man. He's intelligent, in shape, and always puts the toilet seat down...The total package. He also loves classical music, writing faithfully in his blog, and working at his job. He's a bank manager. He decided that tonight would be the night to treat himself to an elegant and expensive dinner. He decided to go out, bachelorhood be damned, and see what the universe had in store for him tonight. Steve is open to infinite possibilities. Sarah is haunted by visions of eviction. She hurries through her service and barely notices the person she's waiting on. The tragedy is that if she stops, even for a moment, she would be looking into the eyes of a man who has just seen the most beautiful girl he has ever laid eyes on. Steve is so convinced that he has just found something truly special that he writes his phone number on a napkin to leave for the fair maiden. Unfortunately for true love our young heroine angrily grabs the napkin and, failing to see the signs the universe is sending, crumples it up with the other trash.

Here we have two people...normally perfect for each other, a prime victim of timing. Not only do we not know where we will meet that special someone, but we also don't know when. The best defense against unwittingly scaring away something meaningful: Be nice all the time. It's that simple really. Now I know it's impossible to be nice all the time, but so much can be gained by just being more pleasant. Greet people with a smile. Say hi. Go out of your way to do something nice for someone. You never know if you are going to, by accident, flash that gorgeous smile at someone special.