I set out to find love by manifesting the perfect man – weeks later I reunited with my secondary school crush after 27 years apart
A woman has revealed she found her husband just weeks after writing a ‘desire statement’ to manifest Mr Right – which she believes led her to reunite with her former school crush.
Kelly Lundberg’s love story is the stuff of Hollywood rom-coms – however the 44-year-old insists a simple manifestation strategy led her to the love of her life.
Kelly, from Edinburgh, Scotland, married Graham Ross, 44, after setting down in ‘very clear words’ what her future partner would be like – and even what he would say to her.
The couple, who shared a first kiss at their 1998 high school prom but lost contact soon after when Kelly moved to Dubai, were reunited in 2019 after Kelly’s mother, Heather, convinced her to join a dating app.
She took her mother’s advice and signed up to Bumble – and before long, she matched with Graham.
Yet, it is not only her love life that has been transformed by using a desire statement – Kelly has also used one to manifest personal and professional achievements.
Kelly, author of personal branding book Deseed The Lemon, said: ‘A desire statement is a lesser-known manifestation technique that a life coach introduced me to.
‘You write a note as your future self, as though what you desire has already happened, and describe what it looks like from that perspective.
Kelly Lundberg and Graham Ross (pictured) celebrated their wedding with their friends at Turin Castle in Scotland in June 2024 (pictured)
Kelly and Graham (pictured in 1998) attended secondary school together and shared a kiss at their school prom – but went their separate ways
‘Six years ago I wrote the desire statement that manifested Graham,’ Kelly added.
‘I was feeling stuck in life. I’d been living as an expat in Dubai for 12 years, but a break up at 37 had left me with a broken heart.
‘I decided I needed a break from my day-to-day life, so my mum flew out from my home city of Edinburgh to meet me in the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.
‘That trip, and the idyllic setting, allowed me the time and space to step back and see my life with more clarity. I put a lot of thought into what I wanted to achieve – both professionally and personally.’
Kelly detailed exactly what she was looking for in a man, mentioning that he should be tall and in great shape.
The personal branding expert added that the man of her dreams would pick her up easily, love her playful nature and tell her that she’s beautiful.
‘I stuck it on a wall in my bathroom when I got home and pretty much forgot about it,’ Kelly said.
Kelly wrote a ‘desire statement’ to manifest her Mr Right – and the man she married turned out to be her former school crush
‘When I read it again after re-uniting with Graham, I was so surprised; it’s basically a description of him.’
Kelly and Graham went to secondary school together and shared a first kiss at their prom in 1998 when they were both 16 – but went their separate ways.
Kelly worked as cabin crew with Emirates in Dubai when she was 21 before securing a £25,000 loan at 24 and launching StyleMeDivine, the top personal styling business in the Middle East, which now has a thousands-strong client base that includes royalty and celebrities.
She married her first husband in 2012 but later divorced in 2017.
In 2019, Kelly launched her personal branding business Kelly Lundberg Official, working for luxury brands as well as high-profile clients.
In May of that year, after going through a divorce, Kelly and her mother jetted off to the Seychelles on holiday and it was there that Kelly wrote the desire statement.
The statement was authored by her ‘future self’ and focused on the man that she wanted to meet.
Kelly said: ‘It was the second time I’d attempted one. The first had been filled with ambitious dreams. This time I played it simpler, really being honest with myself.
Graham was one of the first people Kelly came across on the dating app Bumble after her mother set up her account
Kelly recalled how she was very clear in her desire statement about the kind of man that she wanted to meet
‘When you are in your late thirties and have gone through a break-up, you start to question so many things. You wonder if you are going to be alone all your life, whether you will ever have children.
‘And so I thought about the person I would like to meet next, using very clear words of what he would look like, his personality, and how we would act together.’
Kelly’s statement read: ‘My love life has never been so fulfilling. I am in a new relationship – he is tall, in great shape, picks me up easily, loves my playful nature, and thinks I am beautiful (and tells me often). He is handsome, super thoughtful, and generous. We love working out together.’
Four weeks later, during a trip home to Scotland, Kelly’s mother convinced her to join Bumble, promising her daughter that she would manage the account.
It was then that Kelly saw a picture of a man she recognised but hadn’t seen since they were both 17: Graham.
Kelly said: ‘I reluctantly agreed to join Bumble – which allows women to make the first move if they’re matched with someone. Graham’s face was one of the first to appear.
‘He may have been 20-odd years older than when I last saw him – and now with a beard – but I recognised him straight away.
‘He was the boy I’d liked all the way through school and who I’d shared a kiss with at our prom. We never saw each other again. Despite the fact I’d liked him for five years, it never went anywhere. The timing just wasn’t right.’
Kelly and Graham got married in an intimate ceremony in the Seychelles
Kelly admitted that there was some confusion at the beginning – because her mother had set up the Bumble account, Graham thought maybe Kelly had moved back to Edinburgh.
Still, the pair started messaging each other straight away.
Kelly and Graham arranged to meet one afternoon – and Kelly recalled how at 5 feet 2 inches she had to stand on her tiptoes to give Graham, who is a whole foot taller than her, a kiss on the cheek. The date went on until 2am.
It was on that very first date in June 2019 that Graham said the words Kelly had written on her desire statement: ‘You’re beautiful.’
Kelly said: ‘I’d known Graham since I was 12 but I was still incredibly nervous.
‘Our prom kiss had given me butterflies, and I thought that was what happens at 17 if you kiss the guy you like. But, some 21 years later, we kissed on our first date, and I had the same feeling! It’s definitely the person that makes you feel that way.’
For the next four years, Kelly and Graham navigated a long-distance relationship, with hours-long calls and sharing wine and pizza while 4,000 miles apart.
The couple got engaged in 2023 and Graham moved to Dubai. After an intimate wedding in the Seychelles, they threw a party for all their friends and family at Turin Castle in Scotland in June 2024.
Kelly often wonders if she and Graham would have remained together if they had started a relationship when they were both in their teens
Kelly said: ‘Graham and I have often talked about the timing of how our relationship has happened. And how we are right for one another right now, but that wouldn’t have been the case 20 years ago. Would we still be together if we’d got together after high school?’
Kelly admitted that Graham doesn’t share her enthusiasm for manifesting but is fully supportive of her own attempts.
She added: ‘I apply desire statements to all aspects of my life. I strongly believe you can create the life you want. It’s empowering.’
