5 Men You Shouldn't Settle For

I read an article this morning that really, really related to me. It was entitled "10 Men Christian Women Should Never Marry". Here's a link: http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/fire-in-my-bones/19757-10-men-christian-women-should-never-marry . In this article, the author writes about ten different types of men that Christian women should avoid and how it's better to be single than to be with one of these men. I think that this article could be applied to women AND men (provided they're interested in men) alike, regardless of what their religious preferences are.

Being a single, college educated woman in the deep South, older people are always wondering why I haven't settled down and gotten married. There's this expectation of getting married right out of college and having babies shortly thereafter that I just do not understand. (Unless, of course, you met your soul mate in college and married him right after, an experience which 2 of my friends have been blessed with.) If I meet a man of QUALITY that I don't feel like I'm SETTLING for, then I would love to marry him...when I'm good and ready for it.  Not because I'm in my mid-twenties and that is what people in South Carolina do at this age.

Anyhow, the article I read has inspired me to make my own list of men that NO ONE should settle for. These men are NOT quality.

1.) The Liar--if he's lied about anything in his past or tries to hide or cover any secrets that he has from you, then he is not worth your time. He will continue to lie to you...this will NOT change.

2.) The Manwhore--if he sleeps around a lot, who's to say he won't sleep around when he's dating you?  Lots of girls like to think they can "change" guys like this...I, on the other hand, only trust them as far as I can throw them.

3.) The Eternal Fratboy, aka the Manchild--He wakes up at 12 pm. on weekdays; he sits on his couch all day and plays video games while chugging beer and smoking weed with his bros; his house is a mess of beer bottles and laundry he has his mother do for him. If he's a grown man who lives like he's still in college, he will never be able to take care of you.

4.) The Angry Drunk--or just anyone with anger issues. I've watched enough "Investigation Discovery" TV to steer clear of men, or people in general, like that.

5.) The Narcissist--This type of guy is usually really attractive, which seems like a good thing, until you realize how much he KNOWS it.  He hangs out at the gym for hours every single day working on his physique, then posts countless shirtless selfies on Instagram and Facebook so people can admire his abs of steel. Beware of this guy...he will never love you as much as he loves himself.

The sad thing is that a lot of men fall into more than one of these categories. I feel like I should insert a Liz Lemon "That's a Dealbreaker, Ladies!" gif in here somewhere.

Ladies (and gentlemen), we are much better off single than settling for someone who is not a quality guy. Don't ever lower your standards...eventually someone will meet them--even if you're 50 when it finally happens. Even Liz Lemon eventually found her Criss Chros.

The Sad Reality

Recently, the county I live in, a usually quiet and undisturbed corner of the world, has been getting some nationwide recognition. Not for its beautiful oak trees, parks, or beaches, but for having a trashy reality television show filmed here. Being a reasonably intelligent person with very little patience/tolerance for drunken people acting like idiots, I couldn't bring myself to watch an entire episode. Though, before I could make a snap judgment about "Party Down South"--yes, that's the name--I watched a few clips of the show. Obviously, I was kind of grossed out and actually felt sorry for these people for acting so foolish on national television. (FACT: there's a slightly older, creepy guy on there that the younger girls actually call "Daddy"-see man in muscle tee above.) But, hey, stupidity and promiscuity sell--just think about how much money the people from "Jersey Shore" have right now.

It made me think about if I were on a reality TV show. They always have those tiny rooms where one person goes in and talks crap about everyone/confesses things to the camera. It would be hysterical to see what people like Snooki or "Daddy"would have to say about me...."That Meredith chick is soooo bizarre. She goes to bed at, like, 9:30 every night. What an old woman!" Or "Why doesn't Meredith ever go out with us? When she does, she just looks pissed off, and like she'd rather be at home reading by herself." Also, "Meredith is cute but she seriously needs to loosen up. (That one I've actually heard in real life!) And what's with all the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings references?" All in all, I would probably make for an incredibly drama free reality show...I would never be the fan favorite, and no one would appreciate my wittiness. Maybe I would be painted as a frigid bitch because I would never stoop so low as to actually talk to the other people in the house? :)