You Deserve It!

If you are a woman reading this, do pay attention because you are worthy of this counsel! Whether you are single or in a relationship, you deserve to be treated with care, love, and adoration. In a word, you deserve to be cherished. If you don’t know this about yourself, you may be in the habit of acting out in ways that get you disrespected and abused. Or you may be in the habit of surrendering to disrespect and abuse because you don’t value yourself enough to insist on better treatment. The advice I am about to give through a poem a man wrote is best received the better you love yourself.

If you are a man reading this, the advice I will quote from this man is like a magic key. You treat the woman you love this way and, if she loves herself enough, she will respond in such a way that you might feel you don’t really deserve her. But if you treat her this way, you do deserve her! Just keep on loving her.

What Kind of Man
By Colin Martin

Find a man, who calls you beautiful instead of hot,
Who calls you back when you hang up on him,
Who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat,
Or will stay awake just to watch you sleep.

Wait for the man, who kisses your forehead,
Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats,
Who holds your hand in front of his friends,
Who thinks you’re just as pretty without makeup on.

A man who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares
And how lucky he is to have YOU.

A man who turns to his friends and says, “That’s her…”

Why Do People Get Into Relationship Trouble?

The number one reason people get into relationship trouble is because they do not love themselves enough to have standards of behavior that protect them from being hurt. People who love themselves command respect. It doesn’t mean they never get hurt. But attracting abuse and chronic hurt either doesn’t happen or doesn’t occur for very long with those who love themselves. Their love runs deep enough that they are able to practice the tough love that sets good boundaries. They are able to practice the tough love that sets good examples for how to live and love.

Think about Colin’s poem today. If you are a man, does it apply to your marriage or romantic relationship? If you are single, can it apply to you the next time you fall in love? And will it apply six months, a year, six years later?

If you are a woman, can you believe down to your pretty toes that you are deserving of such affection? When you believe it, you will attract it.

I’m raising my glass in cheers to you, hoping it is so.

Related articles:

1. Too Comfortable? What to Do When Your Man Gets Complacent and Stops Trying (Video)
2. Don’t Lose Yourself To Get Love
3. Celebrate Your Love Every Day
4. Neglect Is Not An Expression Of Love
5. Dating and Relationship Advice – Can You Use the Law of Attraction to Find True Love?

You might meet someone who you fall really hard for and are convinced that it was meant to be, but is it?

Can you really fall in love online?

Dear Dan and Jennifer,

I’ve been chatting with this guy online line and we’ve really hit it off. Is it possible to fall in love with someone without meeting them in person?

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The Power Of Imagination

Meeting someone online with whom you get alone is a wonderful, beautiful thing. It’s amazing to be able to introduce yourself to someone online and get to know them a little bit without the awkwardness that traditional dating can sometimes bring. However, keeping a relationship confined to a dating website or to email or webcams can severely limit the growth of the relationship.

How can you be sure that you truly love this person when you know so little about them? It’s impossible to learn everything about someone through an online dating site or through email or even phone conversations. You may feel like you love this person, but what really happens is that your imagination "fills in the gaps."

Whatever you don’t know about them is something your imagination comes up with and you end up being in love with a semi-fictional but realistic person. Sadly, even if you do meet up with this person after dating online for awhile, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. It would be impossible for them to live up to what you’ve dreamed up about them.

Online Introductions

That doesn’t mean you have to swear off online dating websites entirely. They’re a great way to meet people in your area that have similar interests and enjoy doing the same things as you. If you meet someone online, however, it’s important to keep the online part strictly an introduction.

Meet in Person

…

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3. Online Dating Sites Begin The Dating Process, Not Be The Engagement Period!
4. Did You Know That 81% of People Lie in Their Online Dating Profiles?
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Does that mean he doesn’t love you?

Without hearing the utterance, you may wonder what’s going on in his skull. Is he just sticking around for the sex? Has he developed an intricate plan to win you over and then tear your heart out, just for the fun of it? 

Men are hard to read. They are not as verbal as women, and some have been raised on the belief that "actions speak louder than words. "Chalk it up to genetics, culture (nature versus nurture) … it doesn’t matter. You just want to know if you’re a man’s final destination, not just a rest stop along the highway.

Fortunately, knowledge of your guy’s zodiac sign can help you determine if he’s the strong, silent type … or if he’s just taking you for a ride. The twelve Sun signs symbolize different ways that people express themselves. Some men are primarily emotional, others live in their heads. Look to your guy’s Sun sign below to learn how likely he is to say, "I love you."

Air Signs: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius 

These mental, sociable signs vary greatly in their expressions of love. Gemini may say, "I love you" Wednesday, only to have changed his mind on Friday. He is a fickle man, and it is hard to hold his interest for long. Libra, on the other hand, is the romantic type, and will not only express his affection with "I love you," but also with songs, flowers, chocolates and reservations at fine restaurants. Aquarius will say "I love you … like I love all my friends!"

Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn 

More than any other element, earth signs will express their love with actions more than words. After all, the earth element is all about what you can actually hold in your hands. Taurus will express affection by doing simple things for you, probably tasks that involve physical labor. Status-conscious Capricorn will buy you diamonds. Virgo is the exception — he does thrive on being helpful, but his sign is ruled by communication planet Mercury. He’s likely to put his love into words, but he’ll also alert you to the spinach lodged between your teeth.

Fire Signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius 

These inspiring guys prefer drama, action and adventure over articulate expressions of their love. Leo (the exception) is most likely to exclaim his affection, preferably with Shakespearian prose in front of a crowded room. Sagittarius will take you along the entire Appalachian Trail, but may fear that "I love you" means having to stay home and watch network TV. Aries will say those three words only if he had to conquer another guy (or your own resistance) to get to you.

Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces

…

Related articles:

1. Astrological Compatibility: Are The Stars In Alignment For Your Relationship?
2. Why So Many Men Are Emotionally Unavailable – The Astrology of Feeling
3. A Man’s Love Is Expressed Differently From A Woman’s Love
4. Is It EVIL to Say I Love You with No Intention of Getting Married? (Video)
5. Talk is Cheap – What Does it Really Mean to Tell Someone “I Love You”?

While we feel that you should treat every day in your relationship like Valentine’s Day, we do want to help you make this special day incredibly romantic and memorable for both you and your sweetheart.

As we get closer to Valentine’s Day, we’ll continue to update our blog with any cool resources or ideas that we find.

Here’s a great article from Michael Webb at TheRomantic.com with some really creative ways to say "I Love You" this year.

"14 Creative Valentine’s Ideas"

By Michael Webb, Founder www.TheRomantic.com

Here are 14 Creative (yet inexpensive) ways to say "I Love You" this February. Do your friends a favor and forward this message to them.

1. Sleep under the stars
   Buy some glow in the dark stars from the toy department and arrange a special message above your bed.
2. Their very own coloring book
   Draw a dozen or so silly pictures of memorable experiences. (browse through photo albums for ideas). Outline in black marker and then have the pages copied and bound on heavy paper at a copy shop. Give with a pack of crayons.
3. Computer romance
   Change the screen saver on the computer to a scrolling message. For added effect, use a wingding or character font that can’t be read without decoding.
4. Got milk?
   Hide a bunch of silly prizes and a card in your love’s favorite cereal.
5. Jump start the romance
   Tie your card or gift on a three foot string and tie it to the bottom of an automatic garage door. When your honey comes home, the gift will magically arise to greet them.
6. Rubber ducky races
   Go to a nearby river or stream and race rubber ducks. The loser takes the winner out for dessert.
7. Warm the heart
   While your love is in the shower put their towel in the dryer for a few minutes so it will be toasty warm when he or she steps out.
8. Music to their ears
   In your own voice, record a book, fairy tale or poetry on tape for your dearest to listen to on the way to work or while he or she is out of town.
9. A winter picnic
   Move the living room furniture and have a picnic in the middle of the floor complete with blanket, picnic basket, and all the fixings (in front of a roaring fireplace would add to the effect).
10. Send a mail bomb
    Sending a card can be exploding romantic just by adding something unexpected: a feather, leaf, matches, lock of your hair, pressed flower or your handkerchief scented with perfume/cologne.
11. The personal touch
    Gently scratch his back for ten minutes while he falls asleep or brush her hair for the same amount of time.
12. Mirror, mirror on the wall
    Use Rain-X Anti Fog (used to keep car windows from fogging up) and a cotton swab to write a message that will mysteriously appear on the bathroom mirror while your sweetheart is showering. Or put that old tube of lipstick to good use with a good morning greeting on the mirror.
13. The Jelly Belly game
    Blindfold him and feed him Jelly Bellies. If he guesses the flavor correctly, he gets a prize. If he guesses wrong, you get a prize. To make it more interesting, combine flavors (root beer + ice cream = root beer float, coconut + pineapple = pina colada, chocolate + cherry = chocolate covered cherries, etc.).
14. Welcome home!
    Use chalk to write a welcome home greeting on the sidewalk.

Make sure to check out Michael’s other terrific Valentine’s Day resources below: 

• Draw closer together with 1000 Questions for Couples
• Spice up your love life with 500 Lovemaking Tips & Secrets
• Discover 300 Creative Dates
• Don’t miss 100 Bedroom Games for Couples
• Learn the 50 Secrets of Blissful Relationships
• There is A Better Way To Date 
• Read about The Romantic’s Guide to Popping the Question

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1. Top 10 Resources for Valentine’s Day Ideas, Tips, and Advice
2. You’ll Definitely Want to Try These Fun and Creative Date Ideas
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4. 5 Easy Ways to Make This Valentine’s Day Sizzle
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"She’s playing games with him." "He’s playing games with her." "They’re playing games with each other."

These comments are always accompanied by stern looks of disapproval. But if I enjoy a game of tennis with my lover, nobody’s going to accuse us of "playing games with each other".

What’s going on?

Most people pay lip service to the idea that "mind games" is bad, bad, bad. But who among us never plays them? I submit that these games are not always bad; in fact sometimes they are good and even downright necessary to social interaction. I like to call them "social games". 

Playing mind games in love and sex can be everything from exhilarating to heart crushing.

Games can be anything from psychological bantering to role playing. The perception that playing mind games is bad comes from the fact that far too many people use little known seduction tactics to take advantage of other people. 

However, when everyone involved knows that they’re playing, it can be an incredibly fun ride. A chance to let your hair down and try something new or be someone new for a little while.

Dan and I both love the chase… And we both know it. So while some couple might get jealous if their partner flirts with someone else. For us, it’s exciting because we know we’re having really hot sex tonight! The key here is that we have a completely open and honest relationship. We tell each other absolutely everything.

I know you’ve got fantasies that involve some sort of game playing even thought you may not call it that. You see, having a fantasy IS a mind game.

One word of caution for couples who like to play games, make sure that you’re both always on the same page and are completely open and honest with one another. If a game goes too far, say so. If you want it to go farther, say so.

I would love to hear any thoughts or ideas that you may have on this topic.

Related articles:

1. How To Stop Playing Games And Just Be Yourself
2. How to Spice Up Your Sex Life and Save Your Relationship
3. Revealing New Online Dating Book…
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When it was time for him to move, I told him that if he was willing to change his mind, I’d love to stay together and do the long distance relationship, but he was sure it would cause too many problems.  He wanted to keep a friendship and to stay on good terms so a future together might be possible.  Since he moved, we have spoken almost every day.  He flew me to New York for Thanksgiving, and Florida for Christmas so I could meet his family. 

It’s been bothering me that he won’t commit to be exclusive with me, so I told him to either stop calling me every day telling me he misses me and giving kisses over the phone, or show me he wants to be with me and be my boyfriend.  I felt like I was giving him the benefits of having a girlfriend, without him having the responsibility of having a girlfriend. He thinks I’m worried too much about the title.  I don’t know what to do because we’re a really great match. 

Should I continue to talk to him and stop worrying about the title? 

Or should I break up with him and move on to find someone who wants to call himself my boyfriend?

The Answer: I think your boyfriend is very wise and is showing great responsibility by not making promises that he’s not necessarily ready to keep. He told you up front what his expectations were for the relationship – something that a lot of men would not have been strong enough to do.

I agree with him, boyfriend is just a title.  The terms boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, and wife are often used to imply ownership. Titles are for cars, not people. We cannot own or control another person, especially their feelings and emotions - as hard as we may try…

It sounds like he really likes you and that you have a great relationship.

Why does the relationship have to be exclusive for you to enjoy each others company?  If your relationship is strong enough, why not just agree to be completely open and honest with each other. Agree to tell each other if you’re seeing someone else.

Seeing someone else doesn’t mean your relationship has to end. That’s just jealousy rearing its ugly head. Jealousy is an emotion of fear and control. We’re afraid of losing something that doesn’t even belong to us in the first place.

Since you’re so far apart, …

Related articles:

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2. 3 Ways to Make Your Long Distance Relationship Work
3. Revealing New Online Dating Book…
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Will it bring you greater wealth, better relationships, a healthier body with less fat, and a reduction in your blood pressure…

Or will it be more of the "same old same old". It all begins with a choice. Make the decision that this year will be better than last year.

Right now, at this moment, you may not know how it will be better or how to make it better… But that’s OK. What does matter is deciding it WILL be better – in fact that it will be the best year, ever, for you.

Success is not an accident. It begins with a well-conceived plan… 

If you HOPE to increase your income this year. Or HOPE to pay off debts. Or HOPE to lose weight and get in shape or to find the love of your life… 

…then stop right now, you might as well forget about it. It’s not going to happen. Why?

Because HOPE is not a plan.   

Maybe your problems or goals involve your business, or your job, or your relationships, or your health, or how you spend your time… or ANY number of the things that make up YOUR life.

The fact is, every successful person I know finally hits the breaking point… where you either overcome your obstacles or be a slave to them forever.

If you want to start a business, increase your income, get out of debt, stop working so much, lose weight, get in shape, quit smoking, pick up a hobby… or whatever it may be… it’s time to take action. 

Don’t fall victim to procrastination. Fear. Loss of motivation or whatever else keeps you in check.  

If there’s something, or someone, out there you really want. If you want 2008 to be your best year yet… then you must reach out there and grab a stranglehold on your goals. 

This is an excerpt from and incredibly gifted and talented man, Gary Ryan Blair. Maybe you’ve heard of him. He is The GoalsGuy and he has created a fool proof way that you can create your Personal Strategic Plan for 2008.

You’ll definitely want to read the following article by Gary!

Create a Personal Strategic Plan!
by Gary Ryan Blair

Success is not an accident. It begins with a well-conceived plan. You can and will achieve more in the next year than you have in the past ten with a disciplined Personal Strategic Plan.

Personal strategic planning is a disciplined thought process, which produces fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide who you are, where you are going, what you do, and how, when and why you do it. All of this is done with a focus on the future.

The purpose of personal strategic planning is to help you:

- Provide direction, meaning, and purpose for your life.
– Make decisions that positively affect your future.
– Focus your energies on what’s most important.
– Achieve the greatest results in the shortest period of time.
– Significantly increase your level of performance.
– Enjoy more time, money, balance and freedom.
– Eliminate uncertainty, anxiety, doubt and fear.
– Leverage your skills more effectively.
– Enhance your quality of life, and overall peace of mind
– Be more, do more and ultimately to have more from life.

Personal strategic planning is based on the premise that life will not go according to plan, if you do not have a plan.

A successful plan must include the following…