-- An Excerpt from "Mirror Mirror" by Kara Powell and Kendall Payne --

Romancing yourself

How do you define "romance"? In your mind does it always conjure up images of a boy and a girl? Do you need a guy in your life to have romance? Well, the Oxford Dictionary defines romance as an "atmosphere or tendency characterized by a sense of remoteness from or idealization of everyday life." It defines romantic, "as of, or characterized by... an idealized, sentimental, or fantastic view of reality."

What this should tell you is that every minute of your solitude can be romantic; you don't need to have a boyfriend. Romance is an atmosphere you can live in. It is not the silly sentimentality that most young lovers try to pursue by holding hands or writing little poems or calling each other pet names. It transcends such barriers as physical distance. You can sit alone and gaze at a sunset and feel a deep sense of romance. Most of the time, sharing it only dilutes its power anyway when your partner doesn't regard it with the same respect.

Of course we all long for the day when the second part of the definition comes to fruition. "A prevailing sense of wonder or mysterty surrounding the mutual attraction in a love affair." Finally free to combine the romance or our lives with the romance of his. But if you're not there yet, then don't pretend to be! Live in the now.

Look inside yourself and to God for the fulfillment of all your longings. And be confident that the desire for romance is natural, even more than that; it is wonderful! Only when you learn to find it from within will you feel satisfied when it comes externally.


~ The Top 10 Most Romantic Things To Do By Yourself ~

1. Bake yourself some cookies.

(I mean your favorite cookies.) Decorate a shoebox and line it with tin foil. Put all your cookies inside and hide them in your room so that no one can find them. Or go to your local candy store and pick all your absolute favorite chocolates. Eat them all yourself!


2. Take a bubble bath!

Take a long indulgent soak in some smell-good suds. I always put more than the directions tell me to! If it says pour one cupful into running water, I put three! If you're allowed to shave your legs, do that! Or get some cucumber slices, put them over your eyes and relax!


3. Go on a hike or prayer walk at sunrise or sunset!

Around my house, I have a trail that leads back about a mile to a waterfall. i love to get a backpack with water and snacks and hike to it. Or sometimes I'll set out with a friend or by myself and just pray the whole walk. When I try to sit at home and pray I normally get fidgety and can't concentrate. This way I can be moving and yet still fully concentrating on God. Sunrise is a hard one for me, but I never regret doing it! The sunset is always stunning!


4. Plan a picnic in the park.

And take your dog! If you don't have a dog, borrow one from a neighbor. Get yourself a big wicker basket and pack a sandwich, drink, dessert, and a big blanket to sit on (preferably red and white checkered, it just looks cuter) and go outside! We spend so much of our life indoors looking at man-made inventions like TV or the Internet. There is so much beauty outside, so take a good look around! Eat very slowly. Enjoy each bite!


5. Fire in the fireplace with a good book.

Lay some pillows from your couch or your bed down in front of the fireplace. Prop yourself up so you can see, and read by the light of the fire. The three-hour Duraflame logs are perfect for this. If you finish your book just enjoy the fire.


6. Pick yourself a bunch of flowers.

(not the ones your mom has planted in the backyard! go find some wild ones.) Get a vase and fill your room with them. Take special time to smell each one and thank God that he created it! Think of it as God giving you flowers!


7. Have a matinée and ice cream day.

Save your money for a Saturday afternoon and go see a movie BY YOURSELF! Most people can't do that. I absolutely love going to movies alone. Then treat yourself to an extra large ice cream cone. Take a walk and eat it remembering your favorite parts of the movie.


8. Hit the bookstore, plus coffee.

Hopefully you have a Barnes and Noble or Borders bookstore around you somewhere. Get yourself a hot drink; find a book that interests you and a big cozy chair. Spend a few hours reading. You don't have to finish it. Or you could just get five or six magazines and look through them.