Allow me to reintroduce myself. Several years ago you knew me as one half of Erin and Juli, the co-columnists of “A Single Thought.” Back then I was young, single, and happy to share my dating exploits with you. Today only my age has changed.
I’m still Erin Ann, I’m over 30, but under 40. I’m college educated, with a good job, and I don’t pick my nose. I’m not overweight, but I’m not a supermodel either. I have a big dog, and we love to go hiking. I have the poison ivy to prove it.
I get my summer tan from long walks and hikes, and not by paying money to sit in a pod and make it look like I did. I don’t watch reality shows, particularly if they air on channels based on celebrities or music (or used to be based on music). I love to explore anything from small quaint towns to European capitals.
I am the oldest of four siblings. I’m a doting aunt. I have more cousins than I can count. I have a dozen little girls who firmly believe I am their fairy godmother with a magic wand. And if I do my job right, they’ll never have a reason to doubt that.
I embrace the spirit of volunteerism. I would rather be serving others than anything else in the world. I love volunteering with children.
I’m outgoing, a little sarcastic at times, slightly quirky, and I probably have more pets than you do. I’m loyal and devoted to my friends and family.
I have been boy-crazy since the fifth grade. I’ve tried online dating more times than I can count. And I’ve been a member of several singles wards.
But the thing people identify about me the most? How am I most frequently labeled or remembered? I have never been married. But not because I don’t want to be.
And that is where this journey begins. I’m here to talk with you about being single in the LDS Church. Sometimes it is easy, and sometimes it is not. Sometimes we wonder why we even bother going to church, and some days we are so filled with the Spirit we can’t imagine how we ever doubted before.
There are days when we believe the Lord has a Plan for us, and that it is meant for us to be single right now. But there are also very difficult days where we just don’t get why we are where we are, and why we have so very little control over the thing we want most – to be married! (And to make a million dollars, but we’ll save that for another column some day.)
I don’t want this column to be all about me. I’d love to have your input, thoughts, and stories as well. Here are the subjects and potential titles for some of my upcoming columns. If you have something to add, whether it is funny, sad, a tip, a scripture, or terrifying story, please send it to me at [email protected].
1. Having fun in spite of myself – the art of living solo.
2. Fitting in single in a family ward.
3. When Dating Loses All Appeal – what to do next.
4. Making Friends Feels Impossible – everyone in my new town has lifelong friends.
5. Hypocrites and the Dating World – marriage minded serial daters and other creatures.
6. Lies, Lies, and Da*n Lies – navigating online dating.
7. Great Singles Scenes, and Other Myths Your Mother Told You – do you know where the party is? Which towns really have the best over-30 singles scenes?
8. The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants – dating nonmembers.
9. How Reading the “Five Love Languages” Changed My Life
If you (or someone you know) fit into one of the following categories, I’d love to have you help co-write, or even guest write a column. Why should we be limited to just my point of view? Guest writers are strongly encouraged and welcomed around here.
So if you are a –
man
woman
live in Utah
live someplace not called Utah
divorced
widowed
single with children
convert
re-activated
older than me, or younger than me
not Caucasian
not in the United States or Canada
a dating or relationships expert
bishop of a singles ward
a divorce lawyer
I would love to hear from you! Please send an email and let me know what you would like to guest-write.
And thanks for letting me come back and talk with you all again.
I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
