I’ve been living in Baltimore for about 4 ½ years now and still loving it, but there was a time I got a little nervous thinking I’d have to leave Charm City if I ever wanted to date again…

I’ll explain…

My ex and I broke up over a year ago, it was difficult, but looking back now it was definitely for the best. I learned a lot about myself and even more about what I wanted/needed out of a relationship. Once I gave myself plenty of time, I got back in the dating game.

Boy-Oh-Boy it was definitely an interesting time. Some dates were lovely, other people were quite honestly just shitty human-beings and after 30 minutes of interaction, I just wanted to high-tail it out of there!

All my girlfriends had already jump on the bandwagon, using online services and apps to find men around Baltimore. I just couldn’t do it, nothing wrong with dating sites, I’ve just never used one (except playing around on my friends, which is fun!) and it seemed overwhelming.

I’m still old school and believed someone would ask me out while I was shopping at the grocery store, or maybe a friend would introduce us, or my dream guy would be sitting across from me at a café and he’d strike a conversation up with me and BAM we’d be inseparable from that date forward

Sounds good right?!?!

Did the old school method work for me? Well, kind of, but not exactly how I imagined.

Let’s see…how to explain …interesting story but we won’t go into all details because like all love stories it a LONG one, but I did meet Aaron through a new friend I had made at a cookout in May 2015.

I was out at Bookmakers in Federal Hill one night with the new friend I had just made the week prior and he invited Aaron to meet up with us. Aaron walked through the door and I was totally into him right away. His personality was so magnetic. He walked into the room with a presence of “I’m here, let the fun begin!”

Summer came and went, I saw Aaron a hand full of times in group settings and oddly we would sometimes end up meeting up in Fells Point to hang out randomly without the group. We never dated or talked about the possibility of liking one another but I liked him a lot & I loved the friendship that was developing.

Fast forward to October. Aaron finally gave me a direct indication that he wanted something more from us in an Uber ride home after hanging out with a group of friends. I was shocked, but in a good way. My heart filled with joy and I thought this was it!

Picture taken the night things changed between us.

But it wasn’t…we didn’t move forward, Aaron and I didn’t have a happily ever after. We had kinks to work out.

But, finally in December we were officially together.

We are six months in…. now what?

Our relationship isn’t perfect. We’ve had plenty of ups and down, misunderstanding, ex issues, time management issues, & the list goes on…but THIS relationship is totally worth it. We both want it to work.

I am in a relationship with my dream dude.

Yes, I know it may sound corny, I don’t care!

As I’ve gotten older, my list has of must-haves has gotten shorter. Not that I’ve lowered my standards…NEVER THAT! I have real non-negotiables and they are legit the other stuff can be worked out.

For example, I realized that dating someone who doesn’t live in Baltimore wasn’t going to work. I tried, but it’s not for me. I have to be with someone who loves and appreciates Baltimore. A person who doesn’t plan on leaving Baltimore any time soon, because leaving Bmore is no where on my radar right now. I have to be with someone who accepts me where I am in my journey to becoming a better person and wants to grow together. Aaron gets it.

Aaron was born and raised right here in the city, he loves this place, and he has built, along with his awesome partners, an amazing toting company right here in the city, Treason Toting Company.

He makes me laugh, treats me well, he gives me major affection constantly, even though I am not the most affectionate person back, but he knows I need that affection daily. Aaron is very smart, a hard worker, family man, and above all, he is kind. He understands that without the Lord nothing in this life we live would be possible. He is my best friend. I love him and excited to see what the next six months hold. Discovering more and more about each other every day has kept us busy while discovering this Charm City’s hidden gems.

Only advice I can give you about finding charming love is to be patient. However you decide to get out there and meet new people, do it with optimism even if the last 5 dates sucked. Don’t settle. Re-evaluate yourself. Seriously, look in the mirror and make sure you worthy.

Be honest with yourself.

Until Next Time,

Alysha

@DiscoverCharmCity

xoxo

Photo Credit: Most of the pictures where captured by a dear friends.

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