Waiting for Mr. Right

First off, if you have time I would like to preface this post with a post I wrote 2 years ago called "A Love That Never Stops Loving".

Before I met Jared I had literally given up on finding "true love".  I had come to the conclusion that I would be single for the rest of my life and I WOULD for sure have 17 cats.  

In my religion families are the center of our happiness.  We preach that everyone will have the opportunity to be married and have a family.  The only kicker is, sometimes it's not in this life, sometimes people don't get that opportunity here on Earth.  So that is what I had convinced myself.  The person I was supposed to be with, was waiting for me in Heaven.  When in reality, he was just waiting for me in California - but I'll get to that later.

I had always been asked, "Carli you are so beautiful how are you not married yet?"  All my friends thought that I would be the first in our friend group to get married, but I wasn't (I was actually the last). 

Growing up "different" in a world of normalcy is heartbreaking, discouraging and sometimes just down right ridiculous.

I was always the pretty girl- but not pretty enough to look past the fact that I am in a wheelchair.

Now I am sure if someone is reading this that doesn't have any visible disabilities your probably think,

"What ever. That is NOT true."

BUT if you empathize with me.  If you yourself have some sort of disABILITY then you're probably screaming at your phone "YEAH GURRLLLLLL".  Because you guys get it.

The dating world for those of us who have not been blessed with a perfect body, is a real friggin struggle.  

This is how dating went for me.

**Gets tinder**

**Gets asked out on date**

**Gets anxiety thinking about having to first "prep" the person asking me on a date that I am in a wheelchair- because Heaven forbid I show up to the date in a wheelchair without having to prepare someone for that.**

Do you know how frustrating it is to feel like you need to let someone know that you have a disability before you go on a date with someone?  It's just simply not fair.

Like you wouldn't tell someone before you go on a date, oh I am have blonde hair, or blue eyes, or wear a size 3 shoe.  No because those things don't matter.  But society has taught us that being in a wheelchair, having only one arm, one leg, having some sort of thing that makes you slightly different is something the world needs to be prepared for.  

It wasn't until last year that I posted my first picture in my wheelchair because I didn't want people to see me for anything I am not.

Then I met my sweet adoring husband.  He never, not once ever asked "Why are you in a wheelchair?"  "Why do you walk like that?"  

I can honestly say that Jared is the man I was supposed to be with.  He never makes me feel inferior or inadequate.  He is never embarrassed or ashamed that his wife can sorta kinda walk but mainly uses a wheelchair.  I have never heard him prep someone to meet his wife who is in a wheelchair- because to him (bless his beautiful heart) being in a wheelchair is no different than having blonde hair, blue eyes or having a size 3 shoe.  He loves me for me.  He loves me for who God made me.  He sees me in eyes that I wish the world could see everyone.

My message to everyone, is if you're still waiting for Mr Right.  Keep waiting.  Please don't let the world make you feel like you are not good enough.  YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH.  We need to stop feeling like we need to explain ourselves.  We do not need to justify why we are the way we are.  We need to stop being scared of being different.  

I am sooooo freaking unbelievably grateful to be with a man who doesn't make me feel like I am a burden.  Jared has given me confidence in my disability that I didn't even know I could have.  He gave me that confidence by believing in me and showing me that really being in a wheelchair isn't something to be embarrassed of.

Find yourself a partner who does that for you.  

And be that person for your partner.  

Let love shine and grow and change the world.