Move over, soulmates. Ditch the destiny narrative. In the age of instant gratification and swiping fatigue, a new love story is blossoming:the love story of settling. Forget fireworks and fairytales, because true love these days is about finding someone who tolerates most of your quirks and doesn't hide the ketchup in the fridge.
Gone are the days of holding out for Mr. or Ms. Perfect. Now, we celebrate the pragmatic pairing of two slightly-less-than-perfect individuals, proving that love truly does conquer all. . . or at least most things, like a persistent sock collection under the bed or a questionable karaoke repertoire.
Settling isn't about giving up on your dreams. It's about realizing your dreams might involve wearing slightly mismatched pajamas and having someone to split the bill at that overpriced brunch place you both secretly love. It's about embracing the beauty of finding someone who fits comfortably into the imperfections of your life, like a slightly-deflated pool float forming a perfect mold for your afternoon nap.
Think of settling as a treasure hunt, but instead of gold, you unearth a partner who appreciates your questionable taste in reality TV and doesn't judge your questionable dance moves at weddings. Sure, they might not recite poetry under your window, but they'll probably help you unclog the drain and remember to pick up milk on the way home.
Sure, some might scoff at the idea of settling. They might yearn for the dramatic, the passionate, the "once in a lifetime" kind of love. But those people are probably also the ones who believe in astrology and haven't figured out how to use the self-cleaning function on their oven.
Settling is mature. It's acknowledging that finding someone who enhances your life, even in the most mundane ways, is a pretty darn good deal. It's about finding a partner in crime for life's inevitable mishaps, a shoulder to cry on during Hallmark movie marathons, and someone to share that last slice of cold pizza at 3 am.
So, the next time you find yourself swiping left because someone prefers pineapple on their pizza, take a pause. Maybe happily ever after isn't about finding your perfect match. Maybe it's about finding the perfectly imperfect match, the one who makes you laugh, who tolerates your eccentricities, and who, most importantly, remembers to take out the trash. Because let's be honest, true love is never having to ask someone to take out the trash.