My Prince Charming

There isn't a single girl on this planet who hasn't fabricated childhood imaginations of a white knight on his fiery steed carrying her away to his shining castle. Each and every one of them has grown up to the stories of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Beauty and the Beast; theybased their dreams on these tales of love at first sight and being swept off their feet; they dreamed of their first kiss being the most memorable moment of their lives; they dreamed of being so beautiful that the their prince charming wouldn't be able to look away..... I was no different. I grew up on fairy tales and M&B novels, and was willing to wait till eternity for that one perfect man.
As I began my embarkment into the real world, I noticed how all of my other girl-friends' innocent childhood fantasies began to fade away. They were now too big to believe in the fatuous concept of finding their perfect prince and a happily ever after. I would sit back and watch how they would fantasize about some guy they'd just met at a party,and how they felt they were 'in love'. The next thing you know, I'd see them go on a couple of dates, into a 'relationship' and then jump out of it just as quickly as they jumped in. Where did their so-called love go? Well, let's just say it decided to fly out the window the minute it sensed a little bit of pressure. Some of the less fortunate ones even ended up getting their hearts broken, because they'd actually thought that that person they happened to meet just about a month ago,was the person meant solely for them, and it took every ounce of self control within me to keep myself from saying, "I told you so..."
In today's fast-paced world, everyone's looking for a short-cut to love and happiness. No one's willing to wait for anyone or anything. However, I grew  up with the belief that the best always comes to those who wait. Hence, I've waited for that special man, for the past 19 years of my life. And when I say I'm waiting for my prince charming, I expect nothing less than a prince charming. As a woman in this day and age, I'm not going to say that I expect him to save me from a tower, whisk me away on his white horse and run off into the sunset, but I am in a position to ask him, what could he possibly do that I'm not capable of doing for myself? I can pay my own bills, take care of my household without the help of a man or even a woman, for that matter. I could accomplish anything I want to. I also happen to have a wonderful family and some amazing friends, who dote on me and never fail at making me feel like the luckiest girl alive. Therefore, before pronouncing a man 'My Prince Charming', I'd like to ask him - "What can you bring to the table?".
When I narrated this out to my best friend, her first response was, "Are you looking for some guy with a million dollars stashed away in some Swiss Bank Account?" So, for those who think I'm referring to money, you couldn't be more wrong. I require a lot more than just that! I need a man who is striving for excellence in every aspect of life......
---> I need a man who is striving  for excellence mentally, because without enough conversation and mental stimulation, I don't see how he would manage to keep me intrigued for more than an hour of spending my life with him. I don't want a simple minded man. I want him to be as complicated and difficult to comprehend as me, and I wish to spend the rest of my life trying to read and understand him, with something new and fascinating on every page I turn.
---> I need someone who is striving for excellence spiritually, because I don't wish for me or my family to be unequally yoked. Believers mixed with non-believers is a recipe for disaster.
---> I need a man who is striving for excellence financially, because I'm not ready for another financial burden.
I need someone who is sensitive enough to understand what I go through as a woman, but strong enough to keep me grounded. I need someone who has integrity in dealing with relationships. Lies and game-playing are not my idea of a strong man. In my opinion, those men who choose not to commit to one girl are either too insecure about themselves and their image, or too scared that they might get heart broken at some of point of time. Therefore, you find them jumping from one girl to another, trying very hard not to get too attached to any one in particular, and eventually spending the latter part of their lives at a bar, trying to gulp down their sorrows with all that alcohol. One can't help but feel sorry for them, because they would never be able to experience the happiness of having to build a life and family with someone.
Speaking of family, I need a man who is family-oriented. One who can be a leader and provider to the lives that have been entrusted to him. Someone who will pamper his children day-in-day-out, but also know where to draw the line between showering all the happiness in the world upon them, and spoiling them rotten.
I need someone whom I can respect. In order to be submissive, I must respect him. I cannot be submissive to a man who doesn't know how to take care of, or mind his own business. I have no problem in surrendering to him and his wishes, he just has to be worthy, by treating me as an equal. He has to know how to deliver the same things he expects from me. If he expects me to give him his share of freedom, he has to give me mine too. If he expects me to not get angry at him if and when he stays out with his friends till 3 a.m., he shouldn't object if I do the same. If he wants me to respect and love his parents as if they were my own, he will have to do the same. And most importantly, if he expects me to be the epitome of perfection, he will have to be perfect too.
Finally, I'm not going to go and look for him. (....everyone knows how lazy I am. *wink*). He has to be smart enough to find me.
He will recognize himself in me. He may not be able to explain the connection, but he will always be drawn to me. Women were created to be a help-mate for men. I can't help a man if he can't help himself...
Also, I know I'm asking for a lot. Then again, I'm worth a lot, and as my prince charming, he will remind me of that, every single day of our life together.
......And this is exactly why I've waited this long and will continue to wait till eternity for that special man.