What inspires me about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding

I wasn't going to watch it. As was actually at work (yes, I work on Saturday mornings at 7 AM - believe it or not, I chose this schedule!). And even there, there was not escape from it, with the news screen only talking about it and showing clips of it all day.  That’s how I found myself, on a rather non-busy morning, tuning into CNN live to see live moments of the wedding. I didn’t expect to be moved in any way. I mean, as a Black woman, the whole “Half Black girl in the Royal family” thing sure had touched me in some kind of way. But as I my work day went on, I found myself particularly moved by the whole ceremony, to the point where I decided to write this article. Here’s what I take away from this special and historical event.

Love and weddings still exist

As our society and mentalities change, we now live in a world in which getting married is not necessary anymore. For many, marriage is an unnecessarily stressful and expensive commitment that does not add any value to a relationship which, in most cases, already feels like a marriage. And then, when people do get married, they feel less and less obligated to do the whole religious thing. A quick yes before a civil authority (or other kind of officer) seems just enough, the rest often considered too much of a big deal, or simply not aligned with the couple's convictions. So if some decades ago, it was common in large families like mine, to see all siblings get married one after the other, in our generation you can actually count on a few fingers the siblings who had the guts to do the whole (religious or not) wedding thing – and stay married! In a time where everything is temporary and is lived according to one's feelings, the "forever marriage ideal" is more considered like an illusion than anything else. Sort of sad, isn't it? Well, Prince Harry and Meghan are there to make us dream again! Real love that lasts forever still exists, and we should not be afraid to go out there and proclaim it for the whole wide world to see!

35 is the new 20

If you're a thirty-something woman who hasn't found the right one yet,  like me, you might feel a certain pressure. All your friends and siblings are now either married or with babies and you somehow feel like the old girl who will end up with 12 cats. Well, Meghan gives us hope, showing us that at 36, you still have your whole life ahead of you to find your prince charming, get married and have kids! And also, that it doesn't matter what frogs you might have kissed in the past before finding your prince. All you have to do is use that time of singlehood to discover who you are, find what you are passionate about and do what makes you happy, until eventually, the universe puts things together and has you meet the man of your dreams when you least expect it... if it is your vocation (what's meant to be). And who knows, that man could actually turn out to be much more than what you might have ever dreamed of!

Relationship goal: Have a husband that looks at me like Prince Harry looks at Meghan

I was recently having brunch with an old friend of mine who has been with her boyfriend for the last – get ready – 16 years! Yes, she is my age, which means she is still with her high-school sweetheart, which she met when she was just 15.  We were talking relationships, and she was telling me what has made her remain in love with her beau. She mentionned that it was so important to be with someone who lets you know all the time that he appreciates you and is grateful to have you in his life.  Well, as I watched Prince Harry tell Meghan "You look amazing... I missed you" on international television, I do not doubt one second that he is that kind of guy, who will tell her similar words all the time as they grow older and start a family together. And well, if that does not make you dream, you’ve either found the love of your life already (and Prince Harry ain't got nothing on him), or you're just not romantic enough, go watch The Notebook already!

Love is all that matters

Forget nationality, race, religion, age, past... Prince Harry and Meghan are the living proof that in 2018, these things have little weight in a relationship in which reigns true and authentic love. Meghan, by converting to Anglicanism, and by, most probably having to go through long and boring social etiquette classes to learn to be a Princess, shows us that there is no limit to what a woman can do out of love. As for the Royal family, by accepting that the wedding service be closed by a gospel choir singing "This little light of mine", among other wedding surprises, shows that times are changing, and that they are not ashamed of her African-American background.  In the end, the love between their son and that undeniably gorgeous creature called Meghan is all that matters.

I've never been a Royal Family fan or follower, and I never thought I would even watch this wedding, much less be touched by it.  But I did and IO was, and I must say that we all have something to learn from it. As I am in a period in my life in which I am sort of wondering what it's going to happen love wise (and trying hard to let go and let God be God), this wedding gives me hope that everything will turn out for the best, in God's time, according to His will. I really wish that beautiful couple the best... and I can't wait to see their curly-haired-freckled babies!