Am I 'being Shallow', or Am I Just not 'settling'?

Have you ever been told you were being "too shallow"who is perfect, for that matter? I happen to believe
when you expressed to someone what you werethat people who are "perfect", whoever they are, must
looking for in a partner? I know I have.If we say wehave a really hard time finding someone to date. After
want our future mate to look a certain way, we getall, who is good enough for someone who is perfect?
the "shallow" routine from people we talk to. NumerousKind of an ironic twist, isn't it?My opinion is that we tend
women I've talked to report that they draw similarto be attracted to people who look a lot like us, have
disdain when they say they want an "intelligent" man.the same values as we do, and share other similar
(Hmmm...so why don't men hear that when theythings—like a sense of humor, for example. My
express such a desire for the woman they hope togirlfriend (and "podcast princess") Emily disagrees. She
meet?) Furthermore, we all know what a woman'sthinks people tend to go for someone who is a lot
going to hear if she says she hopes for a mate who isdifferent than they are. You know, the old "we
financially successful. My educated guess is it'scomplete each other" bit. Well, here it is: it really doesn't
probably something similar to what a guy hears whenmatter which one of us has it figured out. Neither
he talks about what kind of body his future matesituation involves someone going after a "perfect"
should have. So is there anything to this accusation ofperson, does it? Whether I want to find someone who
"being shallow" as single people in particular so oftenis a lot like me or who "completes" me she's not a
hear? Should we all "lighten up" on potential dates?Barbie doll. When we're considering who it is that we
After all...what we are hoping and dreaming of is a bitwant to spend the rest of our life with out of the six
unreasonable, isn't it?My answer is unequivocally NOT.billion souls on Planet Earth, I hereby declare that each
If refusing to settle for any less than the mate I amand every one of us has every right to consider very
going to be thrilled to be with is "shallow", than I'm adiligently exactly who that person should be and which
"kiddie pool" among men. You'd better believe it. Aftertraits he or she should have. In fact, I highly recommend
all, I plan to spend the rest of my life with this woman,you do so.And once you do that, make sure you are
so why should I "settle" for half-hearted unfulfillment ofthe kind of mate who is going to make that person
broken dreams?My personal pet peeve is whenequally thrilled to spend a lifetime with you. Deserve
someone tells me, "You shouldn't be so ‘picky'.what you want.
After all—you aren't perfect."Well...um...exactly.And