Love at First Sight?

Do you believe in love at first sight? Or does the thought of it just make you want to go blind? Do you think it's possible to know the minute you meet someone, or even see someone, that they are the one? Is there such thing as a soul mate? When it comes to love is your vision 20/20?

There is the type that fall too easily for someone. One of my friends asks women to move in after what seems to be no longer than that one initial week of hot and fiery lust. Another one who goes on one good date and already has the next ten years lined up with what she is going to do with this new companion. It seems improbable that we could know that we can sustain a long term relationship with someone we don't even know. So, is it about gazing into someone's eyes, or do you need to see things in the same direction?

I personally don't know that I believe in love at first sight but about seven years ago I did have what I think was my closest experience. I was working at my office and had a serious boyfriend and was in what I considered a happy relationship. My boss walked into my office and started talking to me (and yes I had seen him before so it's not quite at first sight, again, this is my closest experience). He was talking but I didn't hear a word he was saying, instead I was having this all consuming wave of a feeling that right in front of me stood my whole future. I didn't know how or why but it wasn't like anything else I had ever felt. It wasn't tingly or necessarily romantic or flowery, but instead grounding and solid. It was like someone was just telling me what my future would be without any part of me participating in the decision.

So, how do we really know? Like I have always said...we don't. We can make a list of all the things we are looking for in someone and evaluate it each time we meet someone new. However, sometimes they meet all those criteria but the connection just isn't there no matter how much both parties wish it to be. Or conversely you meet someone that you have great chemistry with and sees your soul like no one ever has but doesn't have the same long term goals or family values. What is more important and how do you decide? At some point as much analyzing or evaluating as you can do... it comes down to one thing... a leap a faith... Albeit some of us take a little bigger, ok huge, leap than others. So I guess when it comes to love, it's not only about kissing a lot of frogs but it requires leaping like them too!

Always,
Isabella

Check out my new column, Fifty First Dates, in Switch this week.