A little bit more information

I would rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not. I've outgrown game-playing and don't see any reason to be deceptive. I'm also a hopeless romantic, a sensitive soul, and a seeker of wisdom. It's important to me that I'm honest, non-judgmental, accepting, compassionate, and loyal - I find these come naturally to me. I've had difficult times in my life, which have given me the opportunity to learn about myself and others, and helped me be courageous and self-directing. However, the drama in my life is a number of years behind me, and I find joy and wonder in the small things as well as the greater mysteries. I'm devoted to those I care about, have a gentle disposition, and love to laugh (often at myself).

I'm a single mother to a wonderful almost-five-year-old, but don't want him involved unless things get serious. I'm not looking for a relationship to "fix" me, or complete me, but ideally I'm looking for a best-friend and partner. If I don't find that, hopefully I've made some good friends along the way.

Just to add a little note near the top, I am not a skinny girl. If you have a problem with this (people are attracted to different things, that's understandable) please move on. I'm working on being healthier in body, mind, and spirit, but don't want this to be an issue on a date or in a relationship.

I love to read, and often have four or five on my bed-side table on the go. I seem to come back often to The Power of Now by Eckhardt Tolle, the Tao Te Ching, the Gnostic Gospels, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Dr. Gabor Mate, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, Kids Are Worth It: Giving Your Child the Gift of Inner Discipline by Barbara Colorosso, Revolution from Within by Gloria Steinem, Wherever You Go, There You Are by John Kabat Zinn, Promiscuities by Naomi Woolf, The Beauty Myth by Naomi Woolf, and books on self-improvement and self-actualization. I also like Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen, Dickens, Jonathan Swift, Dante, and anything written by the Dalai Llama.

As for music, my tastes are varied. I'm currently listening to Ani DiFranco and absolutely love her! I also like opera, classical, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Afro Celt Sound System, Neil Young, Neko Case, Tori Amos, Pink Floyd, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, Jann Arden, Tracy Chapman, Feist, Andrew Bird, Delerium, Moby, Great Big Sea, Spirit of the West, Great Lake Swimmers, Gnarls Barkley, some songs by k-os, m. ward, Elliott Bood, Iron & Wine/Calexico, The Wooden Sky, Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson, some Indie groups my brother introduced me to although I can't remember their names right now, and others.

I spend a lot of time thinking about the following: the meaning of life; my goals and aspirations; how to use my talents to serve others and fulfill my potential; how I can help my son discover his gifts and understand the importance of being loving and kind; why we as humans do the things we do; my connection to the Divine, One Mind, Creator, or whatever you want to call it; how I can make time in my life to be more creative, finish my piano studies, or learn to paint; how humanity can ever stop destroying itself and the earth; my very rudimentary understanding of quantum physics but how cool it would be to know more; keeping an awareness of what I am thinking about, how I am thinking and if I need to change it, and accepting things as they are. (Just a partial list)

I'm not perfect, and I don't expect my partner to be either. I'm willing to be upfront about my challenges and what I'm working on, and if you want to be as well, that's great. In my idea of an "ideal" relationship, we would learn and grow together.