"The Notebook" & lessons learned

Yes, I broke down and watched it. A friend visited on Saturday, and wanted to watch it, so I sat through it, expecting your usual chick-flick :)
I liked it - the beginning was a little cheesy/predictable, but the story was incredible. Yes, it was sad, and yeah, I did tear up a little at the end, but as one character mentioned to her former boyfriend when he found his true love, "Thank you for letting me meet her - Now I have something to look forward to". Okay, okay, I know it's a movie, designed to sell tickets, video copies, and other merchandise, but movies are designed to reflect our heartaches, hopes, experiences, and dreams.
Yes, I've become content with my (single) lot in life, but that was a eventual transition, built on a life of growing up isolated, not knowing how to act/react in a relationship, and having my heart broken a couple of times. I eventually lost hope that I'd actually find someone who was meant for me after having relationships end for various reasons, sometimes my own lack of confidence, and decided no-one was meant for me.
At my sister's wedding a couple years ago, someone said to my mom, "well, one down, how many more?", to which my mom replied a bit tearfully, "well, 3". I bristled at that, since why should she think I would marry? I don't want to, right? Well, I do get lonely sometimes, but I figured I should get used to it, and not expect anything to happen, and not set myself up for possibilities of loneliness. I have immersed myself in work, and I have surrounded myself with pets, and I do have a couple friends, but don't count on them to go out of their way to spend time with me.
One, however, has been including me in activities with himself & his wife - not often - he knows I'm okay by myself, but I appreciate his interest in keeping me from my hermit lifestyle :)
Another does plan activities for us to do together sometimes - a concert, a movie, just going out to dinner or redecorating my house, or carrying her shopping bags for her. It's nice to be included.
My mother has also taken an interest in at least calling me on the phone every week or two, or bringing some leftovers from dinner over for me. I know she is busy all day every day, so I make sure she knows I am grateful.
Also, in one heck of a coincidence, I have reconnected with an old friend. It's exciting to catch up, and also lots of old memories have been popping up - the nicknames, the long talks, the cards we'd send. Of course we have both grown up a lot, and matured a bit since then, but so many things seem familiar. I hope it's in God's plan for us to stay in touch this time - I'd like that.
The timing could not have been better, which leads me to believe God is still taking an interest in me, also. He knew I was going through a lot, and He supplied the bright spot.
I'd started to think I was under the radar for now. You know how after a period of nothing special happening in your life, you begin to think God is finding more important things to occupy His time & energy. I know He is omnipotent, but I'm not, so it is difficult to imagine.
So, I guess I should not presume to tell God how my life will go. For just when I think I have things figured out, He surprises me. He's got a plan for me, and He will accomplish it. I thought I had done the Christian thing & accepted the fact that I'd grow old with my critters in my little house, and I guess I'd grown calloused to the fact that there might be room for improvement in my life. You know how a person, when dealing with a situation in their life, will take it as their cross to bear, as if this is what they will suffer for Christ.
God means us to be happy - to enjoy the life He has given us, and when we act like we are His martyrs, He must be so sad, thinking "I give them all that, and they're unhappy???
I guess I have been second-guessing God again, and He has really shown me the last couple days that I still have growing to do, that I need to trust Him every day, in every way, and not say to myself "That's it - this is how things will be". I don't know what to expect, but whether I do become an old man living with his pets, or I do end up sharing my life with someone, I'm now open to the possibilities. It's so exciting to see that now...