Practice Makes Perfect

I'm a big proponent of practice dating ... that is, dating without intention. 

When you first step into the dating pool, you may be feeling a bit intimidated or nervous. Saying YES! to all who ask you out can help you to become more comfortable in your dating skin as you hone your vision of the type of person for whom you are looking.

Posted below is a very short video on this subject.

What's The Big Deal About Valentine's Day?

It’s Valentine’s Day and, if you’re single and bemoaning the fact that you don’t have a valentine, will you consider the following for a change in perspective? 

February 9 was National Toothache Day. 

Are you upset because you don’t have a toothache? 

March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. 

Are you avoiding this day because you’re not Irish? 

March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day. 

Are you upset because you don’t have TB? 

May 12 is International Nurses Day. 

If you’re not a nurse, are you upset? 

August 20 is World Mosquito Day. 

I don't know about you, but when the pesky mosquito gets assigned its own day, I think we need to re-examine the concept of celebratory days! 

The larger point is that Valentine’s Day is just a day … and one that is mostly perpetuated by jewelry, card and candy makers. 

It puts artificial pressure on both well-established couples as they fret on what to buy for each other AND newly-established couples as they worry whether they should buy a present and, if they do, how big or little it should be. 

Here’s the question. If you are in a good relationship, do you really need a national day set aside that “forces” you to express your love? Instead, you should be telling your partner every day (with your words and actions) that you love him or her. 

Don’t be intimidated by Valentine’s Day. You can welcome love into your life in hundreds of ways. In fact, it all starts with you and love of self. If you’re spending the day alone, use it to fall in love with yourself!

First Date Advice

Nervous about dating? 

Listen to the video below for some pointers on how you can allay your fears. 

I especially like my tip on firing up your sparkly eyes, and it's one I've used for many years, as you'll learn in the video.

This technique involves igniting your eyes from inside your being so that they are bright and shiny. In other words, get excited (without any expectations) by your upcoming meeting and the new things you might learn about yourself, your date and your world. Your eyes will serve as a beacon of warm light that will invite open conversation. Your positive attitude and interest in another's words will make the meeting go well and can distill any nervousness about the encounter.

 

 “People love to talk but hate to listen.

Listening is not merely not talking, 

although even that is beyond most of our powers; 

it means taking a vigorous, human interest in what is being told us. 

You can listen like a blank wall or like a 

splendid auditorium where every sound comes back fuller and richer.”

 ~Alice Duer Miller 

The preceding is an excerpt from Finding Love After Loss: Writing The Rest of Your Story, which is available as a Kindle or soft-cover book via Amazon. 

Click here to purchase soft-cover.
Click here to purchase Kindle version.

How To Manage Anger in a Relationship

Today's blog comes by the way of a video with a strong message of:

 Don't Eat Your Anger.