I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t prefer to meet someone organically, as opposed to online. It just doesn’t seem like it happens often enough, but it certainly happens. In movies, the way that the two leading characters meet is called a meet-cute. One of my favorites is in Serendipity, where they each grab the last pair of gloves in the madness of holiday shopping. It’s the unexpected. The moment of magic while running an errand. Before online, people always just met. When they were meant to. Are we meant to meet online now? Are we just in more of a hurry for connection to happen? Do people not go out as much? If Serendipity were a current movie, they would have each ordered the gloves online, and how would they have met? I am pro-online dating when it feels right and I do love the concept of opening all the portals. Not really caring HOW you meet someone. But, the organic meetings certainly do stand out.

Meet-Cute 1: One slow day, while working in a clothing boutique, I was fighting the urge to buy a bracelet. To help justify what I knew would be my future purchase, I walked outside to see it sparkle in the sun. I was so wrapped up in staring at the bracelet that I didn’t notice a handsome gentleman observing this moment. When I finally looked up, I saw a charming, well-dressed man with a whimsical look on his face. We both started laughing and then started talking. I told him that I had set a goal to not shop the month of September, but really wanted this bracelet. He pointed out that it was September 2nd, and then we both really laughed about my lack of willpower. He was headed to lunch at the restaurant a few doors down. Turns out, he ate there daily.

For weeks, he would glance in the store on his way to and from lunch and we would smile and wave. His timing was predictable so it was easy to have fresh lipgloss on and a strategic vantage point to see his handsomeness. One day, he called the store and asked me out. Excited and intrigued, of course I said yes. We dated for months. He was fun, fancy, intelligent, charming, and…19 years older. In a completely different life phase, both personally and with kids. Mine were little and his were not. He ended it because of that, which was heartbreaking at the time but makes perfect sense in retrospect. I didn’t understand alignment as much back then, and certainly didn’t know how to not personalize everything.

Even before the end, I had felt uneasy around Christmas. No, actually on Christmas. He showed up with a Christmas cactus as my gift. The issue was that I had been on the phone with him the day he stopped in the florist and ordered five. He had said that he just gives them to “everyone”. His assistant. His sister. “They live forever.” The good news is that back then, I never remembered to water plants so they all died. Even the cactus died, which was not unlike our relationship, soon after. The best part about someone with a predictable schedule is that it is just as easy to avoid them as to plan to see them. But still, to this day, this was one of my favorite beginnings to a relationship. I rarely wear that bracelet, but whenever I see it in my jewelry box, I smile.

Note to self: you really do never know.

Meet-cute 2: After training the spa team at The Four Seasons, I was heading out, when I saw a cute guy finishing his workout. I hesitated for a moment at the front desk, so we would walk out together. Timing. I said to him something to the effect of, I’m leaving the spa because I was there for work, why are you leaving so soon. He shared that he was in town with his dad, and needed to go up to the room and check on him. So sweet. The hallway was long and by the time we got to the elevators, I was putting CBD tincture into his mouth and we were exchanging business cards. Whenever I have been in sales, it spills over into my personal life and I have always had difficulty not going into pitch mode. I was unintentionally teaching him about the benefits of these CBD products within the first 5 minutes. We stood at the elevators as long as both of our schedules would allow, and then said goodbye. He quickly started texting asking for advice on which products he should purchase from the spa.

Our fun, energetic connection in real life spilled over into text. The next day, he said that he had picked up a little present for me and was hoping to see me before he left town. I, coincidentally, had tickets to a holiday event not too far from his hotel that weekend with my boys. He invited us all to breakfast before that event. Brunch at The Four Seasons. And a present. Wow. We are still in touch, years later. We have never lived in the same city, and who knows if we ever will, but have met up just a couple of times. The last time he was in town, we both needed to run to the mall, and that was our time together. It felt so natural. Months can go by, maybe phone tag, maybe not. But when we do connect, we can talk for hours. Sharing photos and stories from our current lives. Giving each other advice on current partnerships. Probably what we have the most in common is absolutely loving how we met. It helps us both believe in the timing and magic of it all. And what we disagree on the most is who started the conversation. He thinks he did. Which is SO not the case.

Note to self: sometimes good things do happen after 9pm

Meet-cute 3: I had just been to an NBA playoff game and was ready to go home. There is a great meme: I was born to be wild until 9pm or so. Totally me and all my friends would agree and have sent that my way. I give the day my all and then I’m done. My girlfriend was not ready to go home, as our team had just won game 1 of a playoff series, and there was a lot of energy in the air. We decided to go to a nearby bar that is such a scene, that we even had to wait in line to get in. We did wait, and since she is friends with the security guard at the door, he loaned me his coat because it was freezing. Noted that he did not let us skip the line, but baby steps. Wearing a coat that said Security on the back did make me feel an air of authority. As I waited.in.line. In the freezing cold.

Once inside, we started talking to people and they all were so young. One guy in particular was asking if I wanted more kids, and when I shared the ages of my teenage boys, he asked if I had been a teen mom. Flattering. And awkward. A seat at the bar opened up and I grabbed it. I was talking when talked to, but mainly looking around a bunch. The girl sitting next to me turned and said, “I hate it here.” To which I replied, “I want to be home more than anything!” We both burst out laughing and it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship! We talked, laughed, bonded, and exchanged numbers. If you could have seen the scene, you would know what a miracle it is that a super aligned friendship blossomed that night. She is one of my most favorite friends and we have had the best times since that night. It feels like we met in high school. We have even hidden in a parking garage, spying on a guy that I had gone out with days before, when we saw him on a date. If that’s not high school type hijinks, I don’t know what is. Life is magical, orchestrating everything just so, twisting and turning, so our paths connect at the perfect moment with those we are meant to meet. That is pretty incredible. XO