When you stop searching for love, it may unexpectedly come your way. That's what occurred to me when I made the decision to remain single. I nearly missed out on it, but destiny has a habit of fulfilling our desires, even when we don't intend for it to happen.

1. I'd Just Gotten Out Of A Long-Term Relationship

For three years, I had been in a profoundly devoted relationship. Our lives were fully intertwined, and leaving it behind was a major change in my life. I was in the midst of grieving the end of that relationship, and I had to restructure almost every aspect of my life. The last thing I wanted was to fall in love once more.

2. All I Wanted Was Some Time Alone

Although I was grieving the loss of my former partner, I felt an unusual sense of eagerness about being single. Throughout my life, I had mostly been in relationships, oscillating between serial monogamy and polyamory, so it was refreshing to be single again. I made the conscious decision to dedicate my time to self-improvement, and I was fully committed to abstaining from relationships and even sexual activity for an extended period.

3. I Had Grand Plans To Discover Myself Again

Being single for the first time in my adult life was exhilarating because I had yet to discover who I was outside of a relationship. I craved the freedom to explore my independence and to learn about myself as an individual. My goal was to indulge in spontaneous travel, follow my passions, and live without any romantic attachments.

4. Then He Came Along

It just so happened that when I was in the midst of rediscovering myself, he appeared out of nowhere and turned my world upside down. At first, I was disinterested in him because I had my own plans that I wasn't willing to give up for a man. But as fate would have it, his forest-green eyes, infectious smile, and silly personality won me over in the end.

5. At First, I Resisted

At first, I was determined to remain single and rejected his advances. I was content with being friends and having emotional support from him. Despite our strong connection, I was resolute in avoiding any romantic feelings, and for a while, I thought I had succeeded. While I enjoyed building our friendship, I had no plans to pursue anything beyond that.

6. Then He Kissed Me

It would have been impossible to prevent what happened, despite my determination. Although he had expressed his interest in me, I had made it clear that I only wanted to be friends. However, one day, the timing was just right and he sensed it. Even though I had resolved to abstain from physical intimacy, I found myself reciprocating his kiss. I knew it was unwise, but it simply felt right.

7. That Changed Everything

It may come as no surprise that I still refused to acknowledge my feelings for him, even after we had shared a kiss and slept together for the first time. At first, I genuinely believed that I didn't have any romantic interest in him. But as we spent more time together, my affection for him grew stronger. He confessed his love for me, and I wanted to say it back.

8. I Struggled To Open Up

It was clear that I was falling in love with him, but my inner voice was screaming, "You are supposed to be single!" It took me some time to silence that voice, let go of my self-judgment, and trust my emotions. I struggled to express my feelings to him and to let go of my guard, despite the fact that it was a wonderful experience.

9. Eventually, I Stopped Fighting It

It may seem foolish that I held out for so long, but I couldn't help feeling torn. On one hand, there was a remarkable man who loved me and whom I loved in return. On the other hand, I had a commitment to celibacy that I was hesitant to abandon. However, I made the decision to follow my heart, and I am so glad that I did.

10. I've Realized He's The Love Of My Life

I have never experienced love like this before. This man is incredibly kind, accepting, and empathetic, and he helps me develop in ways that I couldn't have on my own. Our relationship is reciprocal; we provide each other with support, motivation, and constructive criticism. It feels like I have finally found my soulmate - someone I am meant to be with. If I had stuck to my original plan of remaining single, I would have missed out on the love of my life. It's a reminder that sometimes life has a different path for us than we anticipated, and we need to be open to it.