Tag Archives: communication

Getting Rid of a Toxic Ex

Posted on March 8, 2011 | 6 Comments

Let’s say you are in a happy relationship. Everything is going along swimmingly. Well, everything except for one little issue. There is an ex that just won’t go away. They’ve been asked politely. They’ve been asked not so politely. You’ve heard promises and threats that they never EVER want to talk to you or hear your name again… but you don’t hold your breath because they call… text… email and IM time and time again. It’s a become a problem. An embarrassment. Something you passionately wish would just go away.

And just to be clear right up front, I don’t believe that ALL exes are a problem. I know that some of you do believe that exes aren’t meant to be friends while others of you are friends with all of your exes and take pride in that. Either way, whatever works for you. But this article IS about dealing with the ex that becomes toxic and how to save your relationship from the potential fall out. Continue reading →

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Posted in Advice for Girls, Advice for Guys, Dating, Keeping a Date, Relationship Advice

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How to Avoid the “Crazy Chick”

Posted on January 12, 2011 | 13 Comments

Confusing, man-eating, delicate flowers… yes, I know. Navigating the world of women when you are firmly in the Y chromosome category pose challenges that test the courage of many a man-child. Some men are lucky/smart enough to get a gal pal or two to decode the mysteries. Some men cannily do the research… things like reading good blogs on dating and mating in America or even getting a dating coach. But some poor sods continue to mope over a beer with the guys and bewail recent blunders, innocent mistakes and in short, continuing to make the same mistake again and again. Attracting the crazies.

I decided to crack the door on Pandora’s Box here and give you some tips that may or may not help you navigate away from the man-eating crazy flowers and find a woman who makes your toes curl. In a good way. Continue reading →

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Posted in Advice for Guys, Breaking up, Dating, Finding a Date, Humor, Keeping a Date, Relationship Advice

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How To Survive The Holidays With Your New Significant Other

Posted on October 7, 2010 | 4 Comments

Holiday survival kit:

Items needed are as follows…

  • Several cups of good cheer (small bottles pack better)
  • One “free pass” in case of foot in mouth syndrome
  • One “free pass” for laughing at an embarrassing family story or baby picture
  • Code word for get me the h*ll out of here now
  • Decoder ring for spotting signs of social or emotional fatigue
  • Cheat sheet of all topics to avoid at the dinner table with the family (small enough to tape to side of dinner glass)
  • File of waterproofed family customs in case of emergency (hide in guest room toilet)
  • Family Tree complete with names, pictures and relations to study during travel
  • Coordinated communication on just how you met, what your plans are for the future, where you are staying while visiting (if it’s not obvious) and if you live together or not
  • Gassed up car to make a quick get away if needed

Holiday survival plan: Continue reading →

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Posted in Advice for Girls, Advice for Guys, Dating, Relationship Advice

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When Does The “Woo” End?

Posted on August 31, 2010 | 6 Comments

My friend Roxanne ran into a very interesting dilemma over the weekend. Her boyfriend informed her that he found opening doors for her “exhausting and annoying.” Of course, I had to comment on the blog post she wrote about it and was a bit tongue in cheek when I said, “To me, that he ever opened the door for you in the first place shows that he knew its something that would “woo” you… so why does he want to stop “wooing” you? Is he of the opinion that you are not worth the “woo” anymore?”

To which Roxanne replied Continue reading →

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Posted in Advice for Girls, Advice for Guys, communication, Dating, Relationship Advice

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Sometimes Being Sick Can Be A Good Thing

Posted on August 23, 2010 | 4 Comments

Sorry I’ve been out of touch this past blog week. A combo of anti-biotic resistant maladies have kept me away from the keyboard and pretty much not in the best place for stringing sentences together. Well, at least sentences that make sense.

But it has illuminated one bright shining example of how life can be different when you’re communicating honestly with the person you’re dating… Continue reading →

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Posted in Personal

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Get To The Point!

Posted on August 11, 2010 | 2 Comments

Men are terrible communicators.

How many of you nodded your head or whispered an amen when you read that sentence? I’d like to ask you to consider that — respectfully — you might be wrong.

Yes, some men ARE terrible communicators. Some women are as well. Perhaps we could just round it out at… “Some PEOPLE are terrible communicators.” That might be more accurate.

The seminar I attended over the weekend encouraged women to consider that (most) men just communicate differently than (most) women.

I totally agree.

For example… how many times have you had a guy ask you to “just get to the point” or Continue reading →

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Posted in Advice for Girls, communication, Dating, Relationship Advice

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Should the Man Always Be On Top?

Posted on July 14, 2010 | 4 Comments

I was thinking about all the “schools of thought” there are on the “correct” way to “catch” someone or maximize your dating success and it occurred to me… why don’t we just listen to what our heart needs and follow that?

For example, I’ve always had better relationships with men who are willing and enjoy taking a leadership role. Not in a caveman kind of way, but men who follow the school of thought that to lead well is to know how to serve. It just works for me. Opens my heart and spirit to receive more gracefully than if I am forced into a role where I have to make all the decisions or do the pursuing. But that doesn’t mean that it works that way for every girl. Continue reading →

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Posted in Advice for Girls, Advice for Guys, communication, Dating, Keeping a Date, Relationship Advice

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Will You Change Your “Relationship” Status?

Posted on July 6, 2010 | 11 Comments

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Changing your “relationship status.”

For those who live and breathe social media, this little click of a button signifies a one-line piece of big news. But for people who are skeptical of the value of sharing their life with a world of partial strangers, changing that status can be a make it or break it moment in every relationship.

The real problems arise when you are dating someone who feels differently than you do about shouting out to the world that you are in a relationship. If you’re a little in doubt as to where your boyfriend or girlfriend falls on the “status change” issue, here are some tips on how to spot and communicate with the 4 most common types of social media attitudes: Continue reading →

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Posted in Advice for Girls, Advice for Guys, communication, Dating, Etiquette, Online Dating

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How To Be The Guy Who Gets The Girl

Posted on June 28, 2010 | 19 Comments

I’ve noticed a trend recently. Guys who show up with unambiguous intention are doing very well with getting the girl.

What do I mean by “unambiguous intention?” I’m talking about communicating the desires of your heart. You want to ask her out on a “date?” You ask her out and make it clear it’s a date. You want her to be your girlfriend? You ask her to be your girlfriend. You think she’s marriage material? You let her know that your intent is to find out if you guys are a good match for the long-term and continue communicating your thoughts and feelings about that as you go.

One guy I know got a girl Continue reading →

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Posted in Advice for Guys, communication, Dating, Finding a Date, Keeping a Date, Personal

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Are You Hungry?

Posted on February 2, 2010 | 3 Comments

I have a confession to make. I was reading along in righteous indignation on this post about a serial meal ticket hunter whose game plan was to raise the ante from drinks to dinner for every date when I realized… wait a minute, I think I might have inadvertently done this myself a time or two. On those nights when I tried to fit in one too many things between work, work out and date — leading me to choose between shower or snack. I’ve definitely been guilty of showing up hungry (but clean) to what was only defined as a “drinks” date. Continue reading →

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Posted in Culture, Dating, Etiquette, Personal

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