Dear ladies, I'll be blunt. First, if you are struggling to find a husband…there is something wrong with you. Now, your propaganda magazines have been telling you that Nigerian men are commitment phobic, they are liars and useless; but let’s be honest here,which is more likely…that there is something wrong with about 70 million African men or there is something wrong with one African woman, you? Your newspaper or magazine can’t tell you this because it has a commercial interest in not pissing you off. However the truth is when a product isn’t doing terribly well in the market, the sales team doesn’t blame the consumers for being ignorant, stupid or whatever; they either blame the product or the sales & marketing strategy. So, dear lady…how have you been selling yourself? What is your marketing strategy? Do you think you are going to be picked off the shelf and placed in the basket of matrimony if you are always hanging out with that coven of witches you call your friends? The ones who intimidate any man who even approaches your table? YOU want YOU to get married. He isn’t going to walk the whole lot of you down the aisle. Finding a husband isn’t a team sport, it’s down to you and just you. Trust me, even if she is your twin sister and loves you like crazy. If another woman decides that the perfect man for you is also the perfect man for her, she will either snatch him up faster than you can say Jerry Springer or make sure it bombs so that you remain as miserable as she is. Drinking yourself into a stupor every Friday and Saturday night doesn’t exactly make you look like marriage material. Neither will any product (you) do well in the market if the sales team (you) reeks of desperation. Nagging and whining only tells a man that he is watching a mere preview of what life will be like if he walks down the aisle with you. If your previous exs all complained about your nags, get a gag! You want a man? Invest in a good wardrobe, dress well. Learn a few things about football; go to places where bachelors hang out. Get out of your comfort zone and your routine. Try a new church, a new bar, visit a library . And when a man comes over to you smile and be polite. Even if he doesn’t fit your mental image of ‘your man’. That’s another thing. Women come to the table with so many preconceptions. By the time a woman is 18 she already has an image of her perfect man that includes height, body type, voice etc. When a man is 18 the only thing on his list is that she would be a woman. As time goes by the woman adds more and more things to her list such that by the time she is dating for marriage not a single man alive can meet her exacting standards. Getting a husband is like buying a house. Sure, you want to buy the 5 bedroom townhouse in Lekki phase II, but realistically you can only afford a three bedroom flat in Ikeja... and that’s with a 20 year mortgage. Similarly, a woman must learn that if she wants to get married in this crazy country called Nigeria, she is going to have to be realistic. Look at your list. You have specifications on height, tribe, income, occupation, what he drives, where he lives, where he schooled, his looks, social circle. Really, how much of that actually matters? Look at how men do it; we marry anywhere from a housemaid to a professor. A guy can have a taste for yellow pawpaw but marries a ‘colour of the night’. We don’t come to the table with a list set in stone; if the deal is right we dump our criteria (and sometimes an incumbent wife- elect) and marry someone so unexpected even our closest friends are left stunned. Stop coming to a relationship with a chip on your shoulder. If you believe ‘all men are bad, ‘men are dogs’ then it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. No man is perfect; if you want to find a perfect man, you will have to do a Genesis chapter one and make him out of clay and breathe life into him. And even then, chances are he will still disappoint. Just ask the Big Guy. You say you can’t date an accountant coz they are ‘stingy with money’; but what if the perfect man for you is someone who can inject some much needed financial discipline into your ‘champagne lifestyle on a palm-wine budget’ existence? You say you can’t marry a blue-collar guy like a mechanic or a carpenter. Now, if a carpenter was good enough for Mary the mother of our Lord, why isn’t one good enough for you? Okay, so the guy is a little short, a little fat..and balding at 26. He doesn’t drive and he lives in Okokomaiko. Big Deal. Don’t be so focused on where he is now; look and see where he has the potential to be. Don’t focus on some petty physical features that aren’t up to your Mexican-soap-opera standards. Will he be faithful? Will he be a good father? Will he cherish and respect you? What is the point of being beaten to a pulp every night by some rich, good looking, womanizing jerk? Why did you not marry that nice accountant in payroll who thought you were the moon and stars? Oh, I remember, coz you wanted your friends to see you on the arm of the successful plastic surgeon, who now beats and cheats on you so much that you are a laughing stock. Do you want a future where you are sitting in traffic, in your BMW X6, Gucci sunglasses covering your black eye, and you look out of the window and you see the accountant guy and his wife holding hands in a Keke napep, laughing and giggling like newlyweds even after 12 years of marriage? Africa is full of good men. You just are so caught up daydreaming about your fantasy man that they are passing unnoticed before your very eyes. Don’t be cynical, fussy and uptight. Improve the product and how it is marketed and demand for it will go through the roof. And remember you are competing in a modern African market. If you can’t cook, learn. Get over any hang-ups you have about cleaning. And for God's sake don’t get yourself pregnant or fake a pregnancy. Your perfect man is out there. He may not look like what you expected but if you give him a chance; the two of you will find joy, companionship and completion like you never thought possible. Living happily ever after does not ends with fairytales alone, its is actually achievable if you re ready to seek love in its natural habitat.....which is strange places!
Opara Emma
Posted: at 23-05-2012 12:56 PM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
sophiebaby at 23-05-2012 12:59 PM (12 years ago) (f)
Nice one dear....
Life is 2short to wake up in the morning with regrets. LOVE KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS*SOPHIEBABY* :*
Posted: at 23-05-2012 12:59 PM (12 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Whao!that a good one how i wish all those girls claiming "i cant marry a short man,an ugly man nd a man who is not wealthy"will read this. Keep it up ur talent is not wastin.
Posted: at 23-05-2012 01:21 PM (12 years ago) | Newbie
Good one. Coming form a woman I did not find my husband it naturally happened by the grace of The Most High. I was focusing on myself and he was focusing on him. Our paths crossed and we fell in love we did not force anything. After experiencing relationships in the past we realized we both rushed witout getting to know the other person. We wanted our marriage to be built on respect, trust and love among other things that build strong foundations. We do it old fashion style. We courted each other and took our time. We were married October 15, 2010 and still did not live with each other until February of this year. we trust each other and respect each other deeply. we love each other and cheer each other on in our goals we reach together and apart. ladies you must know who you are first before you find a mate. And how do you know if you are afraid to naturally be yourself? And if there are men that do not want to be committed and you do, leave him ALONE! Don't think if you have sex with him that you are going to change his mind. Trust me he is doing you a big favor and being upfront about his intentions. Some don't say it with their words they will say it with their actions. It is then up to you ladies to value yourself and save yourself for your husband. It is never too late to wait, trust me I am talking for experience. Cleanse yourselves and wait for your husband until then work on yourself, on the inside out. And when you get married still work on yourself because that is a lifelong process. Peace.
Posted: at 23-05-2012 02:21 PM (12 years ago) | Newbie
Good one. Coming form a woman I did not find my husband it naturally happened by the grace of The Most High. I was focusing on myself and he was focusing on him. Our paths crossed and we fell in love we did not force anything. After experiencing relationships in the past we realized we both rushed witout getting to know the other person. We wanted our marriage to be built on respect, trust and love among other things that build strong foundations. We do it old fashion style. We courted each other and took our time. We were married October 15, 2010 and still did not live with each other until February of this year. we trust each other and respect each other deeply. we love each other and cheer each other on in our goals we reach together and apart. ladies youmust know who you are first before you find a mate. And how do you know if you are afraid to naturally be yourself? And if there are men that do not want to be committed and you do, leave him ALONE! Don't think if you have sex with him that you are going to change his mind. Trust me he is doing you a big favor and being upfront about his intentions. Some don't say it with their words they will say it with their actions. It is then up to you ladies to value yourself and save yourself for your husband. It is never too late to wait, trust me I am talking for experience. Cleanse yourselves and wait for your husband until then work on yourself, on the inside out. And when you get married still work on yourself because that is a lifelong process. Peace.
Posted: at 23-05-2012 05:28 PM (12 years ago) | Hero
@poster, some women may not know what they want until they have experienced/learned things about life. A woman who don't hve God in her life cannot know a man.
A woman needs to hve confidence in herself. Knows your value, respect yourself/family. Men are actin so stupidly smart nowadays most esp players: "God said you are my wifey. I hve been praying and God said u r d one for me" HUH.
When u mentioned about going to new church: Did u knw dat nt all churches operates with God? WHy can't u encourage them to find a bible based church where God will use them to fulfill His purpose? These are some of the things you can tell us. Not, height, that, dah, dah....Your article seems to explained how we ladies can recognized men of VALOR if we see them, but....
Thanks a lot. You tried.
Posted: at 23-05-2012 06:05 PM (12 years ago) | Hero
@Beauti4, well noted, that is main reason God help ADAM wit Eve, to be a supporter. thank you for correction ladies take her advice @poster, some women may not know what they want until they have experienced/learned things about life. A woman who don't hve God in her life cannot know a man.
A woman needs to hve confidence in herself. Knows your value, respect yourself/family. Men are actin so stupidly smart nowadays most esp players: "God said you are my wifey. I hve been praying and God said u r d one for me" HUH.
When u mentioned about going to new church: Did u knw dat nt all churches operates with God? WHy can't u encourage them to find a bible based church where God will use them to fulfill His purpose? These are some of the things you can tell us. Not, height, that, dah, dah....Your article seems to explained how we ladies can recognized men of VALOR if we see them, but....
Thanks a lot. You tried. [/quote]
Opara Emma
Posted: at 23-05-2012 06:39 PM (12 years ago) | Upcoming