#NP "Ascension"

"Shouldn't I realize, you're the highest of the high. If you don't know then I'll say it, so don't ever wonder" I was listening to Maxwell "Ascension" and I was really paying attention to his appreciation for the woman he was referring to in the song and it hit me that  somewhere along the way, I stopped setting that standard for myself. I dunno if it was because I was so busy trying to superwoman and take on the world that my standards became "acceptable". As long as he doesn't call me out my name, try to take advantage of me, and is courteous everything is OK. But it hit me, I am settling. Even in friendship a woman should feel cherished. Granted there are different levels to which someone I'm not with can "cherish" me, but the people you're around should always make you feel like you want to be your best. Hanging out with one of my guy friends he always adores me (except when we are arguing even though he knows I'm always right). I think people should be worthy of your presence, that applies to both men and women, but woman have been settling. If you're your best you, why shouldn't you be treated as such...this isn't about the money he spends or places he takes you. I mean the way you feel when you are around a man. I made a pact with myself, if I'm around a guy and he doesn't make me feel adored then I shouldn't be around him. When you are around a man that treats you with a certain caliber of respect it does 2 things. 1. It keeps you standards high for the right man (don't confuse high standards with picky and unreasonable). They give you a good gauge for what you need in your life to feel appreciated as a woman and not waste your time, settling, wishing, hoping for a guy to be better than who he is. Sometimes people can make me feel guilty for feeling like what they do around me and how they make me feel around them is not good enough for me. Like I should set lower standards. The way I see it, if I'm ready to take the world by storm, why would I accept a man that's sub par in comparison for the rest of my lifestyle. 2. Being put on a pedestal as a woman gives you the appreciation, confidence, love, and respect for men. Relationships are about give and take. I know when I get a certain amount of respect and admiration as a woman, I want to give that and more back. I had gotten away from that because I was so busy trying to be the strongest, hardest, most successful woman that I didn't set the right give and take standards. I felt like I could give myself everything and satisfy myself  so there was no reason to expect so much or give so much. Reciprocating each others needs is the point of a relationship. And feeling special and adored makes me want to be encouraging and supportive...and get in the kitchen and get down!