For Brothers Only - Brief Article
high standards, were faulty.
Indeed, these three Sisters aren’t the only ones on a quest for The World’s Best Brother. There are many women–too many women–on the same mission impossible. They suffer from what Gladys described years ago as a “love overboard” high, a habitual yearning for unattainable men, an all-out longing for catches they have no hope of ever reeling in. With many women, the more unattainable a man is–be it a movie star, singer, athlete, wealthy businessman or a married man–the more desirable he is and the more he is deemed perfect.
For some Sisters, holding out for the perfect man gives them such a rush that even if they manage to hook a “Mr. Perfect,” their fixation will not be cured. Soon, he too will wear thin, and be thrown back. She will misinterpret his sensitivity as softness, his spirituality as oddness, his money as his cure-all, his romanticism as an attempt to hide something. She will call him a “smotherer,” or say that he was “too nice,” or just plain “too perfect”–and will never be able to fully explain exactly what was wrong with him, only that “something just wasn’t right.”
You see, these women aren’t really in love with the perfect man–they are in love with the idea of loving the perfect man. For them, the idea provides a stress-free mind excursion, the automatic go-ahead to quickly dismiss average Brothers who can’t live up to their high expectations. Because many women are so focused on finding a particular type of man, they don’t feel a need to “waste” time–or even a smile–on the Brother waiting tables or the one at the train station.
In the end, the “love overboard” high clouds a Sister’s ability to understand that the true goal of a relationship is not the search but the find. It’s not about looking for the perfect man and weeding out the average Brothers. It’s about finding perfection in the average Brother and bringing out the best in him–and allowing him to bring out the best in her. It’s about finding a diamond in the rough, taking her mind off cruise control and challenging herself to work as hard as she’s ever worked to see if a man with potential could actually be her potential Prince Charming.
When more Sisters open up and stop looking for “love overboard” and start looking for love on board, only then will they come to understand that the average Brother can also be the perfect Brother.
And the best thing about it: She won’t have to piece him together while she stands in line at the movies with two other dateless Sisters. Because her dream guy–perfect imperfections and all–will be there by her side.














Well said.
I remember when I was a kid my freshman year at college a this woman would always come around to were I worked and say sly stuff like ‘call me when you graduate” or “your not ready yet”.
One day she just caught me in a bad mood and I said to her when I graduate what make you think I will want you?
No answer for that.
I do not know if women realize that is a two way street.
I know what I am bringing to the table what are you bringing that I cant do for myself?
But do not tell them about a average brother.
That would be “settling”.
Guilty!
As a black woman, I must say that the article was ripe with truth. I enjoyed the candor of the transparency of the author. The title was, For Men Only. Sorry, but this sister needed to read it!
Brother, let us give the BLACK SKINNED BEAUTIFUL WOMAN some play. Face like Haile? Face like BLACK and Beautiful BLACK skinned beauties! Black skin should be the basis of our BLACK beauty and Brothers(and some SISTERS too) must stop giving all the play to imitation white girl BLACK women. Come and read my “BLACK SKINNED WOMEN-THE BLACK STANDARD OF BEAUTY FOR THE BLACK RACE” AT BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!(yeyeolade.wordpress.com under category BLACK is BEAUTIFUL)
Let Brothers appreciate the beauty of Venus and Serena Williams say, a real BLACK Standard of BEAUTY based on the BLACK Skinned Beautiful Woman!
Your Sister,
Yeye Akilimali Funua Olade
also at:
blackpolygamy.wordpress.com