Friday, October 17, 2014

Five Things Women Should Already Know About Men

It’s safe to say they call men the opposite sex for a reason. Men and woman may share some similar qualities, but for the most part, it’s fair to say we are extremely different. From the way we walk to the manner in which we speak, men handle their day to day lives with a different attitude and actions that women would never think to take. I’ve compiled the top 5 things every woman should already know about men. Ladies, you just might learn something, but then again, I hope you already did.

1. Men Want to Feel Needed. This may come as a surprise to you, but it’s true. Although women are considered the needier sex, men do crave attention as well. Today, women are all about independence, and although your man might be all about that, he wants to still feel in charge. Men are eager to impress and enjoy being helpful. It makes us feel important and needed, something we all enjoy. Let us flex our manly qualities every once in a while. Can’t open that pickle jar or maybe that shelf is out of reach? Step back and let a him save the day.

2. Men Are Doers. Men are action orientated. We’re all about handling situations rather than thinking them over, which can get us into a bit of trouble on occasion. For the most part, it confuses women. Women assume that because men aren’t always vocal when it comes to emotions, that we may not feel the same way. Before you jump down our throat, consider how we act around you. Even if we doesn’t always say “I love you”, our actions may hold the true key to how we really feel.

3. Men Can’t Read Minds and Hate Trying to do it. This should go without saying, but women often forget this one. Although women are very intuitive and can read people and situations very easily, men do not share the same talent. We don’t know why you’re upset, and likely won’t be able to get you the amazing birthday present you really want without you passing a few not too subtle hints. Don’t expect guys to know what’s the matter if you don’t speak up. If there’s something bothering you, or you want something from him, say it. Like my father would occasionally always tell me, “a closed mouth don’t get fed.”

4. Men Have Insecurities Too. Women are known for being too critical of themselves, but men are also harsh when it comes to their own flaws too. They could be body conscience and get hung up on certain aspects of their physical appearance. Some don’t feel strong in the bedroom, while others just aren’t sure you find our jokes funny. You know how you sometimes ask how you look in that new dress just to hear how amazing you are? Compliments feel good. Guys think so too! Throw him a few compliments every once in a while to remind him how sexy and amazing he is. He will love you more for it.

5. Men Unwind Differently. When there’s drama in the office or with family and friends, women like to talk about it. Gabbing with the girls over a few martini’s is an all time favorite when it comes to letting off steam. For guys? Not so much. When men are upset, they usually like to be alone and don’t enjoy discussing the matter. Guys are all about solving problems quickly and efficiently. Logically orientated, we prefer to keep silent and get the job done, rather than worry about it and discuss the matter for days. When we need some alone time we stick to sports, or hang with the guys. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to be with you, or isn’t open to discuss his issues with you. It just means we need a break to breathe, assess, and sort it all out.

Men and women are very different, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put forth an effort to understand each other. Take note, men are action oriented creatures who need a self esteem boost every now and then to keep moving forward. Keep things open and positive, and your relationship with him will flourish...

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Too Toxic to Handle

One of my regular contributors presented me with three great blogs that I want to highlight each week in the month of October. So from the website La Vida Dolce (www.lavidadolce.com), here's my friend Danielle Gordon... 
 
Relationships are a fickle beast. Sometimes they're uplifting and make us feel like we're on cloud 9, and other times, they're draining and make us want to eat a pint of ice cream. I want to discuss the notion of "toxic/unhealthy relationships". This sort of relationship can be applied to all realms: family, friends, and romantic relations, but I want to specifically address romantic relationships. Unfortunately many of us are unaware that we're engaging in these interactions, because after continual exposure, our ability to decipher what's acceptable or not is greatly impaired. Now, what characterizes a "toxic/unhealthy relationship":

1) Non-Communication - Engaging in conversation with your partner is like getting ready for war. You suppress your opinion out of fear for their reaction/response, or when you do speak up, there's belittlement and blame and unresolved differences.

2) Disrespect - This can be manifested in various ways. Some examples are: completely not acknowledging you for days after an argument, attacking your qualities as an individual, or continually placing one-sided blame. When couples engage in this sort of "tit-for-that", mutual respect quickly diminishes.

3) Lack of boundaries - It's wonderful being a unit with your partner, but sometimes, a little bit of "me" time goes a long way. I've always believed that relationships require a healthy balance of individualism + partnership. The toxicity arises when your partner questions why you may want some alone time, why you spend time with your friends without them, or you pre-empt their disapproval and stay behind.

4) Fail to compromise - Compromise is essential to any lasting relationship. It shows our partner that we respect and listen to them; however, it cannot be one-sided. In unhealthy relationships, one partner always feels the need/is expected to concede while the other refuses to adapt.

I understand it's difficult to realize you're in an unhealthy relationship; no one wants to feel they're relationship isn't supportive and loving. I say this, not to be cliché, but out of experience. I've been in a toxic/unhealthy relationship and acknowledging it was the best step I could've taken.

If you're currently facing this, my sincere advice would be to outline the pro/cons of the relationship - are your emotional needs met/do you get what you put in? Then when you're ready, you can either do the following:

- Stay and work on the relationship - Continuing the relationship is admirable. You don't want to go down without a fight, right? I get that, I like to resolve the issues too before making a major relationship change. If that's your chosen path, use your voice, set boundaries, have a strong sense of who you are, and take care of yourself. Realize that your partner may not change in this process. If you feel there's no progress, then move to Plan B - it's time to say good-bye.  

- End the relationship - Breaking up is hard to do. In the short-term there's pain and sorrow; you've given your heart and soul to that person for awhile, but you will be OK. You've taken a huge step towards your emotional survival. Have faith in yourself. Use the lessons learned from that experience when searching for your next partner.

We may come out with some battle scars, but there will be someone waiting for us to show the true essence of a relationship. Always believe in life and love. May we all find sincere love, happiness, and support with a special someone.

Happy reading.

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