I was at a really lovely holiday dinner party last weekend attended by some good friends, some acquaintances, and some people I’d never met. It was the sort of event where conversation usually centers on what movies people have seen, what industry news people have been buzzing about or who already has plans for NYE (see, LA isn’t that bad).

Which is why I was so shocked when one of the acquaintances among the group sat down next to R and me, and started telling us about the dates he’s been on recently. I said something like, hey _____, what have you been up to lately?” and he said something like, “been going on a few dates, you know, getting out there (note: in paraphrasing that I made whatever he actually said sound like something I would say. He is not nearly as cheesy.) R followed with something like, “good for you, man.” (again, my voice).

The conversation would have typically shifted from that little triplet to, “so, see any good movies recently?” except that _______ had a little more to say. I won’t butcher this one. What he said was essentially, “I realized recently that I’m really ready to be in a relationship, so I’m focusing on it more, and treating the dates differently.”

My heart swelled like that of a Jewish mother slash relationship blogger (imagine if someone was both?!) Here was this not-particularly-close friend telling me and my boyfriend that he’s committed to being in a relationship and finding love, all in a manner that made it as simple as finding a new job. “I’m ready to explore other opportunities, so I’m applying around.”

It really struck me. I can’t decide if that’s because I’ve known far less mature men in my time, or if it’s because this man was comfortable enough to share his position at a casual dinner party. Or maybe it struck me because he was so casual, and yet so clear about it.

I want a girlfriend. Don’t care who knows. That’s how I feel.

I think I’m a victim of a generation less apt to feel that way. Or maybe it’s that we didn’t want to admit we felt that way? In my five years in Manhattan and 1.5 years in L.A. I’ve heard one, maybe two people say that, and both of them were women.

This guy was not only confident in his choice but also confident in himself to confess it to us. Again, I don’t know him well, but in that moment I felt I knew him well enough to do exactly what his move warranted in return: I set him up.

As I’ve said before, there are 6.5 ways to meet someone, and anyone who takes advantage of one of those ways before my very eyes deserves to be rewarded.

______ will find someone to be his girlfriend, and probably pretty soon. Part of that will be because he’s a great guy with great qualities, but a lot of that will be because he is ready, and had the courage to share that with new friends at a lovely holiday dinner party.