How I Found Unexpected Love in My 40’s (Featuring new author @mahekg)

I will openly admit it – I had given up. The lovey dovey nature of what defines true love and relationships had always been a challenge for me. Approaching my fortieth birthday fast, I had made a compromise with myself – love simply wasn’t in my stars. I had settled down into professional life and explained to myself over and over again that I was meant to be single. I was one of the lone wolves, one of the few brave women who ventured out into the cold, unkind world alone and stayed that way throughout the duration of our lives.

To be honest after feeling left out, ignored, and dejected when dozens of meetings and dates didn’t work out made me feel frustrated deep down. Of course I didn’t understand or properly identify this feeling at that time, I just felt that this was one part of my personal life that was meant to be spent alone. After all I was strong enough to survive my way till this point, so what was the purpose of looking for someone to lean on?

My journey began in challenging circumstances in Baltimore, Maryland. Now you may call this stereotypical, but when I look back at my colleagues and the lives their kids have in the suburbs, I really feel that I spent a tough childhood. There is no doubt that my loving parents made sure that I was exposed to as little hardships as possible. My dad was a high school drop out who worked at an industrial plant nearby; my mom worked at a retail store as a part time cashier.

With 5 kids to feed, things were tough, but not quite as bad as they could be for a family with similar circumstances today. Throughout my childhood, I didn’t really feel like the world owed me anything. I had been born in the projects and a life of living close to the edge was normal. Having new toys or clothes every now and then was the farthest thing from my mind.

If it weren’t for my mother’s constant encouragement and insistence of a good education, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Through a competitive high school, I managed to secure a place at a local university. The tuition was out of the world for a family like mine, and we struggled, but we managed to pull through. My parents were supportive, digging in to their savings and I worked extra hard to make sure I could get whatever scholarships and waivers I was eligible for. Having settled into a comfortable career at a management consultancy firm, I had to fly across the country to attend a national convention.

The moment of truth came when I boarded the plane and the man next to me – an attorney – struck up a conversation. One thing led to another, we exchanged numbers, and both went our separate ways after the flight – only to bump in to each other at a restaurant later that week. It was as if the universe was coming together to bring us together, but that is a story for another time. It has been a year since that day, and this September we are looking forward to tying the knot.

To everyone who is out there, I hope you find my journey inspiring and continue to look forward to the best in life while making the best with what you have.

@dragonslayer109 features authors to promote new authors and a diversity of content. ALL STEEM Dollars for this post go to the featured author

Don't just follow me, follow the author as well, if you like their post - @mahekg. Thank you