An aging millennial, unfinished dreams, and redefining what it means to make it. Because who decided we had to have it all figured out by 40?

Supposedly, curiosity killed the cat. For me, it gave me nine lives—and a career, community, and relationships I never could have planned.

It’s been nine months. Nine months since I’ve been on a date. Granted, I was a late bloomer to dating and didn’t really start until my early 30s, but once that door was opened, I have regularly been dating. Searching for my person, if you will! The Jess to my Rory (yes, I’m Team Jess) or the Patrick to my David (any Schitt’s Creek lovers out there?).

I turn 38 this month and I kind of feel out of sorts. Not in the mid-life crisis way. Not in the “why am I still single?” way. Not in the “I’m old!” way. And definitely not in the “it’s all downhill from here” way. I’m out of sorts because I never imagined my life the way it is now. Good or bad, I always saw myself in a different place at 38. My dreams have changed a lot since I was young and I’ve learned adaptability through the heartache and gratitude of it all.

This is a very multi-layered, twirly-whirly tale of events! Three meet cutes collide, yet each has their own story. This particular journey starts with The Comedian and ends with The Wanderer. Would you believe that The Rescuer also makes an appearance? I know what you’re thinking, “Kaila, you player!” But, friends, just like all my MeetCUTE blogs go, this is not the black and white story you’d expect. 

Let’s dig in.

We’ve all heard about forbidden love and unrequited love, but what about unspoken love? The bond between two people that feels kismet, yet remains unbound. 

It’s the electricity without touch.

The soulful looks from across the room.

That initial meet cute that welds two souls together,

forgetting what life was before now.

It’s time for another edition of Unedited Me! The part of the blog where I remove all filters and layout where I’m truly at with life and MeetCUTEs. With Vol. 1 of Unedited Me being more of a coming-to-term reflection, today’s blog post is more of a beautification. 

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

- Maya Angelou

Let’s dig in.

If there was ever a decision in life I could pinpoint that changed everything, it was how The Adorer and I’s love story ended! Like parallel realities, my life could have taken a very different road. One road led to the life I’m living right now, but the other road led to the life I had been brought up to believe was my destination. It was supposed to be the cookie-cutter life and at that time, being 19 years old, I yearned for that copy-and-paste kind of life. 

If you haven’t read Part 1, then you need to catch up. Read about this love story's beginnings before diving into this love story’s inevitable destination.

However, if you are all caught up, then let’s dig into the parallel realities.