I Ought To Become The Leading Lady

The movie “The Holiday” starred by Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet gave me a bittersweet pill, which was hard for me to swallow. Then again, I had to take that pill.

For those who haven’t seen the movie, a line by an old guy (Hollywood writer Arthur Abbott, as his character) said to Kate Winslet (forgive me if these are not the exact lines):

“ In movies, there are leading ladies and there are these women who are the best friends. You are a leading lady but you are acting like you are just a best friend”.

This was in reference to Kate who was getting over his ex-boyfriend’s (should I say friend) recent engagement to a colleague. Kate, because of her love, remained a friend and a wallflower to this “confused” guy (as he reasoned in the movie).

Growing up, I always have developed good friendships with boys, guys and men. Some of these friendships have grown to another level, some have remained platonic and some have remained sour after dialed attempts (by either of one us) to bring it to a higher level which is romance.

I have had my own share of being just the “best friend” in my own movie. I have had so many “coffee nights” listening to some friends who have poured out their pain from also being just the “best friend”. I’ve often wondered why the number of “best friends” are increasing. Why? Because we allow ourselves women to be just that. Because of these, there is also an increasing number of men who are “so confused” with what and who they really want.

A guy friend once told me that men have one of three things in mind when they approach a woman:

1) approach her to be her friend first with plans to court her someday
2) approach her to be really just a friend
3) approach her because he likes her and wants to get to know her better

You see, there is really a thin line between a friendship and romance (assume in this circumstance, both being single). Oftentimes, we women don’t recognize the difference between #1 and #2 because men also are confused with their intentions. As such, either of the two end up getting hurt.

I realized that I don’t really want to be just the “best friend”. I want to be the leading lady. I want to be the princess. I want to be the woman that the leading man dreams of at night. I know that when I am the leading lady, I can be his best friend for life.

It is my prayer that God will continue to protect my heart, to wait upon Him as He readies my leading man for action…because I know someday, he will be there to sweep me off my feet.