Because I’ve been single more than 10 years, I don’t often gravitate toward advice on how to navigate “Single Life,” but Faith Jenkins is someone I’ve always admired. I was very curious about her approach to finding love with a man who checked all but one box on her 50-item list. That alone gave her credibility in my book, but in addition she has a history of counseling couples in her professional career as an attorney and judge on Divorce Court.

Aside from the reasons mentioned above and our shared Louisiana roots, I pre-ordered a copy to support her first book. Although it took me much longer to read it than I expected, it exceeded my expectations and took me on my own journey while following hers.

Note: It took longer to get through it because I started in route to a two turned six-week family stay to help out and hangout with my then five-month and four-year-old nephews.

The book gives a look into her private celebrity love life and lessons before marriage, shares advice from the countless couples she’s counseled and provides a guide to dating with affirmations, questions to ask yourself and your potential mate and more!

While there were many words of wisdom I had heard before, there was plenty that I hadn’t heard, thought or considered. Beyond navigating single life, Faith also shared tips and best practices for married couples.

There are so many vivid stories that I remember and so many highlights throughout the pages that I can reference as I navigate love and life. Faith’s top ten words of wisdom that resonated with me and I needed to hear are listed below to give you a glimpse into the value provided throughout the 238 pages from cover to cover. Hopefully, it’ll encourage you to pick up or check out a copy for yourself.

1. Being intentional with the way you think and what you say about being single is the first step to not settling.

2. To prepare for the relationship you want, you must be as intentional about becoming the right person as you are about attracting the right person.

3.  Attraction and physical chemistry are at the floor and not the ceiling.

4. You don’t have to be perfect to be loved - you have to be you.

5.  Our differences aren’t character flaws, they just make us who we are.

6. Just because you do something differently doesn’t make it wrong.

7. Your desire to be in love must take a backseat to your desire to be in love with the right person. One must walk into love, not fall.

8. Everyone wants their rock in love and this is how you get it: commitment.

9. At the end of the tunnel is a love so sweet the honeybees want the recipe. So deep, the ocean is taking notes. So honest, it will make a priest draw closer to God. So strong, it puts gorilla glue to shame.

10. True love, real love, is way better than the movies. It’s unexpected and it fills you up in every way imaginable.

The best part of the book for me was the reality of results of all the tips and best practices Faith put into action to experience true love. Faith and Kenny’s love story gives me hope and hope does not put us to shame!

Thank you to Judge Faith, Legacy Lit and all who contributed to the publication. It was truly a great read.

What’s the best piece of relationship advice or words of wisdom you’ve heard or read lately? Share in the comments below or connect with me on social media @JASMINECTATE.

Hugs & Handshakes,

Jasmine C. Tate