Recently I’ve been thinking about seeing how the dating world feels again.  It’s been awhile since I’ve done it because I just didn’t feel I was ready.  However, I’m extremely fortunate to have such wonderful friends like @chinacat and Bec that encourage me on a daily basis.

At the suggestion of @rockstarima I decided to give OkCupid a try.  It’s a free alternative to sites like eHarmony and Match.com.  As with just about any social-esque website these days, I had to setup my profile.  In this case, one of the questions it asks for your bio summary is “What are 6 things you can’t live without?”.  As I wrote my answers, I realized it was fairly easy to list off 6 things:

1. My kids
2. Starbucks
3. iPhone
4. Music
5. Kraft Mac&Cheese
6. Hearing Aids

As I often do, after I was done, I began to contemplate my answers and question whether or not I should change something.  After all, first impressions are everything.  This one section though seemed to stick with me…what 6 things couldn’t I live without.  Soon, in my mind, it became, “What’s the ONE thing I couldn’t live without”.  Have you ever really thought about that?  Is there something so dear to you, so close to you, so engrained in your life, that the thought of losing it, simply shreds your soul?

Since my list was narrowed down to 6, it would be a little easier already to get my #1.  I’m going to bend the rules slightly by saying that family is not included; they’re a given.  Consider the tangible, inanimate objects for this exercise.

Starbucks.  There are days when I wake up, and my brain doesn’t even function until the flow of that hot java flows through my veins, but I’ll let you in on a little tip…I only drink decaf.  “What…why do you even bother!?”…because I like the taste.  Truth be told though, Starbucks could always be replaced by something else.

Music.  Wow…really?  I don’t know about you, but music drives me; it moves me; it motivates me.  I’m a character of my own prediction though.  I listen to the same music all the time.  If I couldn’t have music, because of my predictable nature, I’d be willing to bet I could hum and sing my heart out.

Kraft Mac&Cheese.  My life began with Kraft Mac&Cheese.  As a child, I could easily eat an entire box of it for a snack.  The pure joy of devouring it would overwhelm me.  My love of the cheesy noodles, poured into my daughters as well.  It’s become a household favorite and a staple of our diet.  Could I possibly love another member of the retro-americana-italian food group?  I think so.

Hearing Aids.  The more I thought about this one, the easier it got to cross it off the list.  Let’s face it…there are so many times when I’d rather not hear anything anyone has to say.  There’s a reason why my text messaging tops 5,000/month.

This brings us to the iPhone.  My mom has said I should just tape it to my hand.  Don’t be silly mom, I type faster with two thumbs on the iPhone.  When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is rollover and grab the iPhone to check my email, Twitter, and Facebook.  When I lay down to sleep, the very last thing I do before closing my eyes, is plug the charger into the iPhone.  I’ve been chastized because I’ve become increasingly incapable of going through an entire church service without turning on the iPhone.  My fear is that lower half of the iPhone will eventually become grooved with a crater of wearmarks from my busy thumbs.  I have the lowest minute plan possible because honestly, I don’t talk that much.

I’ll admit it, I couldn’t live without my iPhone.  For some of you, it might be your Black Berry, or your MBP, or maybe it’s your TiVo, but for me the choice is clear.  So what do you think…addiction or passion?