Being a hopeless romantic sucks when you're also self-seeking and vain.

I just watched the movie Something Borrowed which is actually a terrible movie. I hate how in most chick flicks the protagonist is always super passive-aggressive and is never upfront about what she wants. The entire movie was based around the idea that TWO passive-aggressive people are being dishonest about their feelings to each other and the entire time I'm thinking, "Stop with the bullshit and DO SOMETHING."

But anyway, that isn't what this post is about.

Every time I see John Krasinski in a movie or on tv he always plays the romantic, humble, caring, level-headed and rational guy. And he's super good looking, which doesn't help.

So when I see these characters I get so infatuated with the idea of someone treating me the way he treats the girl he loves. I'm like, "I wish I could find someone who will make me the center of their world and do anything to make me happy." All girls say this. They love the idea of love and the idea of the archetypal Prince Charming coming to treat them like princesses and devote himself to her.

Here's the problem, or my problem: I'm also really selfish and vain.

Every time I meet someone I'm super picky and even one little detail about them can turn me off completely. If there's something about their appearance I don't like, I can't unsee it and it's all I think about. If they don't even type as well as I'd like them to, I stop talking to them. And as terrible as it sounds, if I don't think we look aesthetically pleasing together I lose my interest quickly. Hell, I've stopped talking to a guy because he tried to make a joke that fell flat.

Essentially, one wrong move and I'm over it.

I've got these incredibly high standards because when I think of the perfect guy, he has to be perfect in every single way. It's not even because I'm stuck-up or I think I'm better than everyone else, it's just that I've come to expect these declarations of love and bouquets of roses and someone standing with a boombox outside my window. And those things just don't happen as often as we'd like.

(Pssst, to any guys reading this: I really wouldn't mind these things, don't hesitate!!)

I've met plenty of guys who have been romantic and sweet and nice and caring, but I let superficial things get in the way. It's like I'm convinced someday I will find my Jim Halpert or my Noah Calhoun or my Henry DeTamble or most of all, because I'm a huge Doctor Who nerd, my Rory Williams. They're all I want in a guy and they're also attractive.

So basically what I'm saying is that sometimes we complain about how there's no one out there for us and that great people don't exist when they actually do, it's just that we expect them to be perfect. Perfect looks, perfect body, perfect manners, perfect personality, I mean, I could go on forever.

Fortunately I'm one of the rare few who is aware of this and I can teach myself to look past it. Instead of expecting a fairy-tale character I'm learning to be a realist. You won't be happy with someone because they're perfect, you'll be happy with them because the good outweighs the bad and you accept them for who they are, flaws and all.

Wow, this post just turned into a cliche-fest.

I'll quit while I'm ahead.