What I Like About... No. 1: Good Girls

If you're single--and even if you're not--you probably have a certain "type" when it comes to those of the opposite gender you find attractive.  Some guys like ladies with certain hair colors; some women love men in uniform; some dudes only like ladies who truly understand American football; some women couldn't marry a guy who doesn't like animals in the house.  Whatever your "type" is, you're probably hoping to find "the one" who falls into that category, if you haven't already.

Some of you might think that the only kind of women I could like are famous ones; pretty much, if they're not on Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel, I'm not interested, it would seem.  What you're failing to realize is that, even in recent years, I have been interested in some single ladies whom I actually knew; I just haven't asked anyone out since 2008, for reasons even I don't completely understand.  In some cases, I've had to squelch any thought of anything happening between me and whoever, usually because they ended up engaged and/or married before they knew anything about any such feelings, though, in a select few cases, I was simply unfriended by them for no apparent reason.  What did those ladies have in common? Simple: They were good girls.

You may be asking: What makes a lady a "good girl"? Her style of dress? A lack of excessive piercings and body art? What she has on her iPod? I'll give you a few qualities that a "good girl" has.  First off: A good girl is modest.  When you hear/read that word, you may immediately think about not showing skin, but it's more than just that.  Webster defines "modesty" as "freedom from conceit or vanity" and "propriety in dress, speech, or conduct".  So, a person can be fully clothed and still lack modesty by being a braggadocio, or mouthing off to others, or just generally acting inappropriately.

It's especially the case when it comes to bragging.  These days, people boast about anything and everything--getting honor roll, winning awards they don't deserve, etc.--without another thought.  My mom has never liked those bumper stickers that say, "My child is an honor roll student at _________", because they're quite boastful.  As I've gotten older, I understand what she means.  More to the point, during my first year at my second elementary school, it won the supposedly prestigious Blue Ribbon award.  The principal decided to rub it in everyone's face by launching blue balloons that ended up all over the world, as well as having a new roof and floors installed that were--you guessed it--blue.  I was never happy about all that, though, because several incidents took place my first year there that shouldn't have happened at an "award-winning" school.  Still, even though that principal is reportedly long gone, her boasting over that undeserved--in my opinion, anyway--award is evident to anyone who walks into or even passes by that school.

It isn't just me who is bothered by boasting and bragging; God is, too.  Proverbs 16:18 says that pride leads to destruction, and Paul told the Galatians--and us--that he would never boast except in the cross of Jesus Christ.  Other Scriptures throughout the New Testament warn of being conceited.  Though it's good to have confidence, a woman who thinks she is the greatest thing since the personal computer is simply not my type.

Second off: A good girl is polite and respectful of others.  I know I'm not perfect, and I'll admit that some people and situations get the best of me, but I do my absolute best to make sure that I respect anyone and everyone with whom I come into contact.  Unfortunately, it seems that, especially among people my age, politeness and being respectful are all too rare.  You wouldn't believe how mouthy some people of my generation can be; when I think back to all the ways I was harassed when I was younger, I realize that it was just because those kids didn't know how to behave.  Of course, taming the tongue has always been a challenge; if it wasn't, it wouldn't be mentioned in James 3.  Still, if a girl doesn't know how to appropriately talk to people, she is not the one for me.

Third off: A good girl is intelligent.  Sure, we all say or do stupid things, but there's a difference between making a mistake once in a while and simply just not getting it.  I saw a story on a cable news network this morning about millennials--that is, people of my generation--and the mistakes they often make during job interviews, such as bouncing from job to job, or asking what perks the business will offer them.  Though it was presented in an exaggerated, sitcom-esque style, it really made its point.  Unfortunately, people of my generation will likely continue to make such gaffes in interviews and elsewhere.  If a lady isn't smart enough to realize her mistakes and learn from them, then she isn't right for me.

Lastly, and most importantly: A good girl is a Christian. Proverbs 31:30 says it best: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Seriously, I couldn't imagine being in a relationship with a girl who didn't share my beliefs.  That's one reason why I know the Disney and Nickelodeon stars aren't right for me: Though they may appear cute and innocent on TV, who knows what they're like in real life? Even believing in God isn't enough; James 2:19 says that even the demons do that.

True, some mainstream celebrities have mentioned being Christians, including my current "number one" Demi Lovato.  It's great that she prays before her concerts and gives God the credit for getting her through hard times; if only she would refrain from resorting to occasional profanities and sexual references in her songs, and dress a bit more modestly.  It really doesn't matter; she is just as out of my league as Hilary Duff and Anne Hathaway were, so, there's no point in speculating if she and I are a match.  I'd rather marry a non-famous woman, anyway; I don't want all the annoyances that come with being romantically linked with a celebrity.  My point is: If a girl doesn't share my beliefs, no dice.

I will end by saying this: Most of you who know me probably aren't surprised by the fact that I like good girls.  You look at almost every celebrity I've liked--from Amy Jo Johnson to Hilary Duff to Christy (Carlson) Romano to Ashley Tisdale to Victoria Justice to Jennifer Stone--and they--or, at least, the roles they played--had that good girl quality.  What you may not know is that I've actually crushed on some Jezebels, both famous ones and ones I personally knew.  My "number one" in eighth grade was a washed-up actress who went from big sitcom star to appearing in countless morally offensive movies to dying of a drug overdose; you can guess what one thing she did that made me her fan.  Even other female celebrities I liked--but rarely talked about--were not nearly as squeaky clean as Hilary or Victoria.  More to the point, I once had a crush on a significantly older, divorced woman who claimed to be a Christian, but didn't have the other above qualities for "good girls".  Our friendship has been over for a while, and I used to lament about it; now, I view it as a Godsend.  Though I may have fallen for her at one point, I realize now that she was not the one for me at all, and I will make sure that I never fall for such a lady again.

Any comments?

I Don't Want to Preach Anymore...and I Want to Take This Blog in a New Direction!

Okay, all my faithful blog readers: You've probably noticed that I tend to "preach" on this blog.  I don't mean talk about the Bible; I'm still going to do that.  What I mean is this: No matter what I'm talking about, it's usually in my own defense ("Someone said I should not _______. Here's why I am right and that person is wrong:") or blasting someone else for their supposed wrongs ("Somebody once did ______ to me.  Now, I'll tell you why that was wrong:").  Even posts that seemed innocuous actually fell into that category; a blog on Disney/Nickelodeon actresses was written in response to an altercation with a former friend.  Usually, my writings on here or elsewhere were a product of some kick I was on, though it may not have been obvious to those who don't interact with me personally.

However, I have realized that all these diatribes do not foster discussion.  I have a friend around my age whose blog talks about various topic from a Christian point of view, and, from what I've seen, he gets a boatload of comments, both via Facebook and on the blog itself.  However, lately, on here, I usually get one or two comments, if I get any response at all.  I think my problem is the tone I've taken with my online writings: angry rants, bashing people, and generally inappropriate behavior.  People who normally would read my writings have been turned off by my previous writings, which I admit were wrong and sinful.

So, I want to make some things very clear:

1. I am not going to bash anyone on this blog, even using a codename and/or vagueness.  I won't say anything about any person, living or dead, that I would not say to his/her face.  That includes in "parodies" as well as regular writings.  I know that, in the past, I was guilty of such things, but I promise I will not do it again.
2. I'm tired of one-sided discussion in general, whether online or elsewhere.  Most of you don't care to hear my long stories about middle school or celebrity crushes; if you did, you'd probably ask.  If you're not saying much of anything, then, that means I need to not be talking as much.
3. I am not going to say anything that is in violation of Biblical commandments and teachings.  If I have any doubts about what I'm going to post, I won't post it, or, at the very least, I will get my parents or a trusted friend to look over it first.
4. If I am upset about something, I will not make it public.  I might talk with someone privately, but I will not make an angry post on this blog, Facebook, or anywhere where a large amount of people can/will see it.
5. I'm not sure how often I will update my "Siobhan Thinks Differently" blog; frankly, I feel that my review blog has been a much better venture than anything else I've done online, including other blogs and Facebook.  It seems that I often use this space to defend my love for entertainment, when I could spend the time actually watching one of the movies that has been on my shelf for months; in other words, I'm talking about doing something instead of actually doing it, which isn't right.  If I feel the need to say something on here, I might do so, but, for most of you, Facebook tells you everything you need to know about me.
6. If I do something that I said I definitely wouldn't do above--specifically, in the first, second, and fourth rules--you have every right to unfriend and/or block me, regardless of how good of friends we may have been previously.  I'm saying that because I want to make sure there are consequences if I don't keep my word.

So, that's what I needed to say.  Now, I'm off to spend time with my one true love: entertainment.  (You thought I had a significant other? LOL!)